PS 

3505 

O458 

T6 

1885 

MAIN 


UC-NRLF 


B    3    32E    21b 


GOLDEN    ERA 


JOHN  GREENLEAF  WHITTIIR 


>:$  .  A,  S.  CONDON 


BO1 


IH 


THE    GOLDEN    ERA. 


PROF.    LISTON'S 

EXTRACT  OF  BEEF, 


MANUFACTURED     BY 


LISTON   BEEF  COMPANY, 

CHICAGO,     ILLINOIS,     U.    S.    A. 


This  Extract  is  prepared  with  the  greatest    care,   from    a    superior    quality  of 
Beef. 

It  is  a  delicious  article  and  is  highly  recommended  by  all  the  best  physicians  a* 
the  most  nutritious  Extract  known  for  all  purposes. 

It  makes  a  better  and  more  palatable  Beef  Tea  than  any  other  Extract. 

A  boon  for  the  nursing  mother  and  her  child. 
•'An  invaluable  remedy  for  indigestion  and  sleeplessness." 

No  package  genuine  or  warranted  unless  it  bears  the  signature  of 

PROF.    J.    12. 

For  Sale  by  all  Grocers  and  Druggists. 


THE    WON  DER 

FLOWER    AND    FEATHER    STORE, 

lOS^l    HVTfVA'ljLot    {Street,    JSo-xx    DB*r«,3O.oisoo, 

WILL     UNDERSELL     ANY     HOUSE    IN    THE    CITY. 

Tine    Name    Above    and    Below    the    Window. 


STECK, 
ESTEY, 

SCHWECHTEN, 
SCHUBERT, 

SMITH    AMERICAN    ORGANS. 


PIANOS 


BENJ.  CURTAZ,  WENT     2Q 


»? 
SAN   FRANCISCO,   CAL. 


OTARRELL  St 
near    Market, 


Pianos   to    rent  and  sold  on  easy  monthly  installments. 


REMINGTON  AND  ROYAL  ST.  JOHN 


ARE    THE     LATEST    IMPROVED, MOST 

COMPLETE     AND     PERFECT 

SEWING  MACHINES  IN 

THE    WORLD. 


They   Run    Easier,  Make   Less   Noise,  are 

Simpler    and   More    Convenient 

than  any  other  Machine 

in  the  Market. 


C.  SHAWL,  GEN.  AGENT, 

No.  30  Second  Street,  San  Francisco,  Cal. 


ALSO    DKAI.KU     IN  — 


NEEDLES,  OILS  AND    STAPLE  SUPPLIES 

For  all  kinds  of  Sewing   Machines. 


INVALUABLE  TO 

MERCHANTS, 

LAWYERS. 
MIN  ISTE  RS. 


THE  STANDARD  OF  THE  WORLD, 

—AWARDED— 

I'irst        l*r<  CIEE  ii  in       ^1  <•<  Ii;;  it i<  *'     Kuir 
Over  All    Opposition. 


The  Rl.Ml.MiTON  is  the  only  Writing  Machine  that 
will  stand  hard  service  and  prove  equal  to  the  work  rightly 
expected  of  a  Type  Writer.  Mirewd  business  111  f  II 
use  the  ICemitigtoll,  and  accomplish  three  times  as 
nm.  h  with  tin:  same  help  as  their  less  successful  competitors 
who  waste  forty  minutes  of  every  hour 
their  clerks  spend  over  the  pen,  while  lawyers  \\itll 
ail  eye  to  business  produce  several  copies  upon  the 
K  1  ,  M  I  .\(  i'l'ON  at  one-third  the  expense  of  writing  a  singlt 
<  >|ty  with  tli'.-  pen. 


THE  STENOGRAPH. 


\      S!IOItTIIAM> 

\\  it  i  i  i  > «.    n  % « •  E 1 1  \  i  . 


Hajtid,  Ae.reira.te, 

It  can  be  learned  in    one-third    the    time    the  pencil    systems    require.     All    its  work  is  uniform,  and 
echanically  exact.     Its  use  is  pleasant,  and  does  not  strain  the  eyes,  bands  or  body.     It  can  be  opera 
ted  in  the  dark,  as  well  as  in  the  light.      It  can  be  used  upon  the  lap    in    a  public  assem- 
bly,  without  attracting  notice.     The  writing  of  one  operator   can  easily  be  read  by  an 
other.     We  claim  that  we  have  in  the  Stenograph  a  svstem  of  shorthand  as  rapid  as  any 
other;  the  most  exact  and  uniform,  th<-  least    tiresome   in    practice,  and  by    far    the  m  >st 
easily    and     quickly    learned       Price  of    Stenograph,    with      Manual,    >'4O.oo;    with   In 
struction,  SSO.QO.     This    includes    the    machine,  the    li.unlM.me    leather  and    p    ish  ci.se, 
paper,  and  full  course  of   Instruction  in  our  School,  or  Correspondence  to  noil- -eMder.  I  < 
ddress, 


I  '.  .me  and  make  a  trial  free, 

<;.  «..   \VK>KS«>\   A   <  «>.. 


A»TIIIS.  :ts  C'alilornia  Street,  S.   I  . 


WM.  DRURY, 

MERCHANT  TAILOR, 


NTKEET, 

SAN     FRANCISCO. 


Sir:«|»ri-  Ilian  :il  :my  oilier  Hou^e 
in     Hit-    <  ii>. 

Fri.i.    STOCK     OF     I-'Kr.NfH,    Ex(;i,isH    AND    AMERICAN 
CLOTHS   AM> 


THE   GOLDEN    ERA. 


'     TAKES^W^EST 

PHOTOS-IN-THE-GltYi 
724-i   MARKET  Sj-S.F. 


C.  P.  Sheffield.  N.  W.  Spaulding,  J.  Patterson 

~JE»  j^.  O  I  ~E*  I  O 


Saw  Manufacturing  Company, 


17 


SAN    FRANCISCO. 


Price,    with    Pacific    Saw     Manufacturing 
Co.'s  Extra  Blade,  $1.50  each. 

SAWS  OF  EVERY  DESCRIPTION 

On  hand  and  made  to  order. 


Agent*    fov    V.   K.    PA1JI/N     File*. 

Repairing  of  all  kinds  done  at  short  notice. 


LECTRICITY  FOR  ALL,  RICH  OR  POOR. 
The  "  Perfection"  Electric  Kelt  is  the  latest  and  best. 
Powerful  current  suitable  for  either  sex.  Guaranteed  first- 
class  in  every  respect  and  superior  to  belts  sold  for  $20,  #30, 
and  840.  It  cures  without  medicine,  and  is  specially  ree 
ommended  to  cure  diseases  of  the  Nerves,  Stomach,  Liver, 
and  Kidneys,  Male  and  Female  Weakness,  General  Dehil 
ity,  etc.  Price,  Six  (96)  Dollars.  Sent  free  on  receipt  of 
price,  or  by  express,  C.  O.  D.  Airents  wanted.  Call  or 
>ruggist)>  701  Market  St.,  cor. 


REMOVAL  NOTICE. 

"  T7V  IXj  JS  O  DKT  I  -A.  " 

Magnetic      Garments 


EFFECT 

SEND     FOR     CIRCULAR. 

For  Certificates  of  and  reference  to  Prominent  Citizens  of 
San  Francisco  who  have  been  cured  apply  to  Wilsonia 
Agency  38  McAllister  Street. 


QUICK  TIME  AND  CHEAP  FARES 


Eastern  and  European  Cities 

via  the  Great  Trans-continental  All-rail  Routes 


SOUTHERN    PACIFIC 


(PACIFIC   SYSTEM.) 

Daily  Express    and  Emigrant  Trains  make  prompt  comic" 
tions  with  the  several  Railway  Lines  in  the  Mast, 


NEW    ORLEANS 

\vith  the  several  Steamer  Lines  to 

AM,     EUiOPEAN     1»0RT*. 


PULLMAN  PALACE  SLEEPING  CARS 

attached  to  Overland  Express  Trains. 

THIRD-CLASS  SLEEPING  CARS 

arc  run  daily  with  Overland  Emigrant  Trains. 

No  additional  charge  for  1'erths  in  Third-class  Cars. 

jf<  Tickets  sold,  Sleeping  car  Berths  secured,  and  other 
information  given  upon  application  at  the  Company 's(  )li:o-s, 
where  passengers  I'.i'ling  in  person  ran  secure  ehoiee  >.| 
routes,  etc. 


R  Al  LROAD     LANDS 

FOR   SALE    ON    RFASONACLF,  TERMS. 

Apply  to,  or  address, 
W.   II.   MILLS,  JEROME  MADDEN, 

Land  Agent,  Land  Agent, 

C.  P.  R.  R.,  San  Francisco.         S.  P.  R.  R.,  San  Francisro 

A.  N.  TOWNE,          T.  II.  GOODMAN, 

(  M-iu-ra!  Manager.  Gen.  Pass.  Tkt.  A  t?j 

SAN   FRANCISCO,  CAL. 


WINSLOW'S  A.  ( .  &  S.  ( .  (  LIB  SKATES, 


Also   Vineyard  Skates    tor    Kink   I  *«• 

Prices  Reduced — Send  for  Catalogue. 

WIESTER  &  CO., 

17  New  Montgomery  Street,  San  Francisco, 


more  **  IMsease"  or 

l>nt  Plenty   of 


EGGS!   EGGS!!   EGGS!!! 

—  \V  H  K  N    U  SING  — 

WELLINGTON'S  IMPROVED 


FOR     POULTRY. 

i-lb  boxes,  350.;  3-lb,  £1.00;  lo-lb,  ^2.50;  2%-lb,  ¥5.00. 

Ask  any  Grocer  or  Druggist  for  it.     Any  not  having  it 
should  write  for  the  trade  terms  and  supply  themselves. 

1!.  F.  WELLINGTON,  Prop. 


A  choice  lot  of  Burr  Clover  in  the  Burr;  also  im 
porter  and  dealer  in  Alfalfa,  Grass,  Clover,  Vegetable,  Ever- 
-rt-cn  Millet  and  seeds  of  every  variety;  also,  every  variety 
of  Fruit  Trees  and  Nursery  Stock.  Send  for  Catalogue. 
495  Washington  .St.,  San  Francisco,  Cal. 


A  MAGIC  CURE 


Rheumatism,  Neuralgia,   Pneu 
monia,  Paralysis,  Asthma, 
Sciatica,  Gout,  Lumba 
go  and   Deafne>s. 

Mx-r}  liuilj    should   hurt*    it  ! 

(.  (i.  BUKXETT,  Agt. 

r-^7  Montgomery  Street, 

S  -N    FKAM  is<  o. 
1'KICE,     -     ONE  DOLLAR. 


Sold  by  all  Druggists. 

CALL  AND  SKK 

I>lt.  c ii  \KI.I  s    i:<»\\  i  i  i 

Office,  426  Kearny  St.,  SAN    FRANCISCO. 

C.  E.  CHAMHKKI.AIN,  |K 


The  Leading  Business  College  of  the  Pacific  Coast. 

Li IV    Scholarships,      -      s7O, 

>1  M)    FOR   A    CIRCULAR. 

WANTED 

Ciood  reliable  agents  in  every  county  on  the  coast  to 
collect  small  pictures  to  enlarge.  Work  finished  in  water 
i  olor,  India  ink  and  crayon.  All  work  guaranteed;  great 
reduction  in  prices.  We  also  have  a  small  household  arti 
cle  that  sells  on  sight,  which  agents  can  handle  at  same 
time.  For  full  particulars,  address  or  call  on 
BAXTER  &  CO., 

432  Sutter  Street,  S.  }•'. 


SOHMER    PIANOS, 

Absolutely   -lir    Krsl. 

BRUENN     PIANOS. 

SCHUMANN     PIANOS. 


<;K.vrs    \VAVJTKD. 

SEND    FOR    1'Kli  IS. 


1070  Broadway     Oakland. 


NAPA   COLLEGIATE   INSTITUTE, 

NAPA,  CALIFORNIA. 

l>o;inlhm  School  for  Ladies  X  Gentlemen. 

ELEVEN     EXPERIENCED     PROFESSORS 
AND    TEACHERS. 

EIGHT      DEPARTMENTS    OF  S TUDY.—  Scientific, 
Fine  Art,  Classical,  Commercial,  Musical,  Normal,  El 
ocution,  Primary. 

For  i  ataloyueor  information,  address  the  Principal. 

A.    K.  I,  AN  HER,  A.  _U. 


NYcdlKim's  Red  Clover  M!,.s- 
soins  and  Extracts  prepared  from 
the  Blossoms,  cure  Cancer,  Salt 
Rheum  and  all  diseases  arising 
from  an  impure  state  of  tin- 
blood.  It  will  also  clear  th<- 
complexion  of  all  pimples,  erup 
tions,  etc.  Is  a  sure  cure  for 
Constipation,  Piles  and  many 
other  diseases.  Is  both  laxati\r 
and  tonic.  For  full  particulars, 
address  W.  C.  NEEDHA.M, 
Box  422,  San  Jose,  Cal. 


Mighell  &  Richards,  Gen'l  Agents 


C,  icinnatti  Safe  Lock  Co. 


Cor.  of  Market  and 
Davis  Streets. 


Fire 


and 

Burglar- Proof  and 
BANKERS'  SAFES 

In  all  sizes.  Agents  for  Yale  Time 

and  Ccmbinalion  Locks. 
Vauit  Doors,  all  Sizes  and  weights.     Alarm 

Tills.     Send  for  Prices  and  Circulars. 
Safes   Exchanged  and  Repaired 

"THE  DINGEE  &  CONARD  GO'S 

BEAUTIFUL,  EV KK-liLOOMING 

ROSES 

Onr  CJreat  Specialty  is  growing  and  distributing 
ROSES.  We  have  RoMt<t/aU«iM*<Mtdf>rt>M.  The 

Latest  XavrUies  and  Fine.xt  Trxt'd  s»rts.     We  deliver 
Strong  /'«'  I'li.uit*  sufely  by  mail,  at  ail  I'ost  Office*. 

7  SPLENDID  VARIETIES  Q  I 
Your  Choice,  all  labeled,  for  3>  I  • 
l«forS2;  4()  for  s.">.    Also  other  Varie 
ties,  2,  5,  and   1  2  for  S  I  .OO. 


o 


3XT  ID 


IVE  I  JNT  IE 


STHE      CELEBRATED  f^ 

OHMER    PIANOS 


OPERA 


MARKET 


BYRON  MAUZY, 


SOLE     107   <fc    109    POST   STREET, 

AGENT  SAN    FRANCISCO,  CAL. 


AT  LAST  TO  "PEKFECTION.' 


'  New    Becker '     Washer. 

Patented  July  9,  1879  ;  Fourth  Improved,  Sept.  20,  1880  ;  Fifth  Improved, 
April  4,  1884;  Sixth  Improved,  Sept.  i,  1885.  Will  ship  Machines  to  any  part 
of  the  United  States,  on  trial,  where  good  references  accompany  the  order, 
otherwise  I  demand  cash  with  the  order  ;  and  if  the  machine  fails  to  do  as  rep 
resented,  you  can  send  it  by  Express  C.  O.  D.,  and  get  back  your  money.  Costs 
but  little  more,  and  is  worth  double  any  other  Machine  in  the  market.  No.  i, 
18  inch  wide  Machine,  $12.00,  No.  2,  24  inch  wide  (family  size,)  #15.00.  Wring 
ers,  from  ^3.50  to  *5.oo.  Agents  wanted  everywhere.  Circulars  free. 


Proprietor  and  Exclusive  Manufacturer  for  Pacific  Coast. 
Office  and  Factory,  Mechanics'  Mills,  Fifth  and  M  Sts..  Sacramento.  Branch  Offices:   115  Clay  Street,  San  Francisco  ; 
Marysville,  San  Jose,  Stockton  and  Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  Portland,  O.,  and  Denver,  Colorado. 


SUCCESSOR    TO 


SEEDS 


IMPORTER    AND    DEALER     IN 

GARDEN      AND      VEGETABLE       SEEDS, 

Alfalfa,  Timothy,  Red  and   White   Clover,    Millet,  Flax,    Red    Top,    Blue  Grass,  Lawn 
Grass,  Orchard   and    Rye    Grass,   Bird    Seeds,    etc.     Imported  Red  and  Blue  Gum  and 
French  Mangel    Wurxel  and  Sugar  Beet  Seed. 
No.  317    WASHINGTON    STREET,    SAIN     FllANCISCO,    CAL, 


MARLIN 


IJLJXI -tU 


DQosrfc  In.   Tlio 

for  large  or  small  game— made  in  32  calibre,  40  grains  powder ;  38  cal. 
55  grains;  40  cal.  60  grains;  45  cal,  70  and  85  grains.  The  strongest  shooting  rifle 
made.  Perfect  accuracy  guaranteed  and  the  only  absolutely  safe  rifle  made.  All  styles, 
all  sizes,  all  weights,  Prices  reduced. 
*  Jt  fj  ^%  Gallery,  Sporting  and  Target  Rifles,  world  renowned.  The  standard  for 
iJJidCiVJCXJL^  target  shooting,  hunting,  and  shooting  galleries.  Ail  calibres  from  22  to  45. 

™u,oSu,   MARL1N  FIRE  ARMS  CO.,  NEW  HAYEK,  COHN. 


SAN  JOSE  AND   KNVIRONMENTS  ( l'.,i;,.  46,). 


The  Golden  Era. 


VOL.  XXXIV. 


DECEMBER, 


No.  8 


[PRIZE  POEM.") 


A  LEGEND  OF  SUTRO  RIGHTS. 


Once  when  the  world  was  new, 

Once  in  its  dawns  and  springs, 
When  the  waters  a  language  knew, 

And  the  hills  were  living  things, 
The  mount  that  is  Tarnalpais 

And  this  terrace-bordered  Hight, 
vStood  side    by  side  in  the  wall  of  land 

Which  held  the  seas  aright. 

And  the  Mount  and  the  Hight  were  lovers, 

And  they  stood  with  clasping  hand 
In  their  verdure  crowns  and  beauty  — 

The  pride  of  the  Western  land. 
They  were  lovers  —  rival  lovers  — 

In  love  with  the  Sea  were  they,  — 
In  love  with  the  syren  Ocean 

Whose  beauty  before  them  lay  ; 
Her  emerald  gown  was  broidered 

With  lace  the  mermaids  spun, 
And  her  tawny  bosom  glittered 

With  the  diamonds  of  the  sun. 

They  gazed  on  the  matchless  vista  — 
On  the  wide  out-sweeping  zone 

Of  amber-dappled  Ocean, 

And  they  claimed  her  each  his  own. 

And  a  quarrel  grew  between  them, 
And  the  contest  rose  and  raged 

Till  the  universe  was  shaken 
With  the  jealous  war  they  wage<? 

All  vain  the  angered  Ocean 

Invoked  each  nymph  and  gnome, 

And  beat  her  breast  against  them, 
And  flung  her  arms  of  foam, 

The  sun  and  the  moon  drew  backward 
And  hid  in  their  clouded  light, 


- 


M130030 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA.  459 

,\n<l  the  pale  stars  fled  affrighted 
?**  Back  into  the  aisles  of  night. 


Then  the  king  of  the  hills  and  the 

Arose  in  his  wrathful  might, 
And  kindled  his  red  death-furnace 

Under  the  Mount  and  the  Hight 
The  sea-waves  stop  and  tremble, 

The  hills  like  waves  careen  — 
And  the  wall  was  rent  asunder, 

And  the  Ocean  rushed  between. 


The  king  of  the  hills  and  the  waters 

Still  stood  in  his  wrathful  might, 
And  he  hurled  his  curse  prophetic 

On  the  riven  Mount  and  Hight  : 
'  Ye  shall  stand  thus  widely  parted 

While  the  sea-waves  wash  the  shore, 
And  hear  the  ocean  moaning 

For  ever,  ever  more  ; 
And  thou,  rebellious  Mountain, 

Be  a  barren  waste  and  dumb 
Till  the  world  shall  bring  you  ransom, 

Till  the  East  to  the  West  shall  come." 

The  circling  years  whirled  onward, 

The  birds  forgot  to  sing 
(  )n  the  barren,  nameless  summit 

Under  the  ban  of  the  king. 

One  day  from  the  dust  and  tumult, 

From  the  cares  and  frets  and  ills, 
Where  standeth  the  busy  city 

On  its  ocean-dented  hills, 
Came  one  and  stood  on  the  Mountain 

On  the  mountain  cursed  of  fate. 
He  looked  on  the  broad  Pacific, 

On  the  narrow-bounded  strait  ; 
He  saw  old  Tamalpais, 

Black-browed  as  the  frown  of  hate  ; 
He  saw  the  ships  of  the  nations 

Come  into  the  Golden  Gate. 

And  the  humbled  soul  of  the  Mountain 
Crept  into  the  soul  of  the  man, 

Swift  in  his  brain  evolving 
The  lines  of  a  mighty  plan. 

He  wove  him  a  wondrous  vision; 

Of  the  desolate  land  he  made 
A  flower-wreathed  dome  of  beauty,  — 

A  sylvan  perfumed  shade. 

1  lo  planted  the  snow  pale  flowers 
And  the  blooms  of  tropic  dye, 

And  a  giant  redwood  forest 

Held  its  arms  up  toward  the  sky. 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA.  461 

The  rare  and  the  quaint  and  curious 

Of  the  world  he  hither  brought, 
And  the  wonder-shapes  in  sculpture 

Which  the  master  hands  had  wrought. 

And  he  builded  here  a  temple 

To  the  muses  Time  has  sung, 
Full-stored  with  the  hoarded  volumes 

Of  many  a  clime  and  tongue, 
Where  the  scholar's  hand  might  gather 

From  the  past  its  fading  gleams, 
And  the  poet's  fancy  fashion 

The  thought  in  his  realm  of  dreams. 

And  his  templed  palace  garden, 

With  a  royal  generous  hand, 
He  gave — a  gift — to  the  people 

Of  the  Golden  Western  land. 

From  the  ocean's  lambent  splendor, 

From  his  vision-bowered  strand, 
He  turned  to  the  rock-ribbed  summit 

And  the  glaring  dunes  of  sand. 

He  had  forced  the  earth  to  open 

Her  secret  treasure  door — 
And  back  to  the  earth  he  yielded 

Her  gold  thrice  doubled  o'er. 

The  jagged  rocks  are  shapen, 

To  curious  curving  walls, 
To  granite  carven  stairways 

And  terrace-circled  halls. 

And  curve  in  curve  encloses 

Long  flower  embroidered  lines, 
Where  mythic  gods  and  graces 

Dream  under  palms  and  pines; 

Where  the  ministers  of  winter 

Sleep  in  acacian  bowers, 
Drugged  with  the  breath  of  incense 

From  purple-throated  flowers. 

The  west  wind  whispers,  whispers, 

Its  story  in  the  nights, 
And  the  ocean  chants  its  anthem 

At  the  foot  of  Sutro  Hights. 

The  humbled  soul  of  the  Mountain 

Liveth  HO  longer  dumb — 
The  world  has  brought  its  ransom, 

The  East  to  the  West  has  come. 

— Madge  Morris* 


462  THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


SAN    JOSE    AND    ENVIRONMENTS. 

Some  one  has  remarked  that  "  when  good  closure  includes  about  ten  acres  in  which  are 
Americans  die  they  go  to  Paris."  How-  situated  seven  large  buildings,  besides  others 
ever  this  may  be,  it  would  seem  not  inappro-  of  minor  importance.  Each  department 
priate  that  some  of  the  denizens  of  the  icy  of  instruction  is  most  complete  and  under 
Eastern  States  should  enjoy  a  fortaste  of  the  care  of  a  professor  especially  fitted  for 
the  "Summer  land"  by  taking  a  trip  to  his  work.  The  care  and  training  of  stu- 
California — while  yet  in  the  flesh.  dents  is  most  complete  and  thorough.  A 

A  trip  to  California  is  not  a  success  very  important  feature  is  the  careful  su- 
unless  one  includes  a  visit  to  San  pervision  given  to  students  during  the 
Jose  and  valley.  Around  the  place  yet  hours  of  recreation,  as  teachers  always  ac- 
lingers  a  halo  of  the  old  romance  of  "  early  company  the  boys  at  such  times,  not  as 
days."  The  foundation  stones  of  its  civili-  stern  teachers,  but  as  friends  and  com- 
zation  were  laid  far  back  in  the  dim  ages  panions  in  recreation.  The  fathers  seem 
of  the  past  century,  and  the  wrhole  path-  to  consider  that  the  word  "  education  " 
way  of  its  progress  to  its  present  position  includes  much  besides  the  mere  informa- 
is  made  sacred  by  the  incense  of  toil  and  tion  drawn  from  books.  Therefore  the 
privation,  and  sacrifice,  that  can  be  made  mental,  moral  and  social  faculties  are  all 
only  to  the  founder  of  States.  cultivated.  A  fine  theatre  building  gives 

The  first  European  settlement  in  this  excellent  opportunity  for  dramatic  train- 
valley,  was  made  at  Santa  Clara  on  the  ing,  and  frequently  dramas  from  the  best 
1 2th  of  January,  1777,  when  the  mission  authors  are  creditably  rendered  by  the 
was  founded  by  Franciscan  Friars  on  the  students,  accompanied  by  an  orchestra  of 
banks  of  Guadalupe.  In  1779  the  adobe  students.  The  writer  had  the  pleasure,  a 
church,  which  had  been  built  by  the  few  months  ago,  of  witnessing  selections 
fathers,  was  destroyed  by  heavy  floods,  and  from  "  The  Merchant  of  Venice,"  which 
in  1784  a  new  church  was  built  near  the  were  finely  rendered  by  the  students.  It 
present  depot  of  the  Southern  Pacific  Rail-  is  something  of  a  reccommendation  to  this 
road.  This  was  ruined  by  an  earthquake,  College  that  among  its  graduates  can  be 
in  1818.  Not  daunted  by  this  discourag-  numbered  some  of  the  best  men  of  our 
ing  warfare  with  the  elements  the  brave  State,  ornaments  to  bar,  to  the  medical 
Franciscans,  in  1822,  built  the  present  profession,  in  the  field  of  politics  and  in 
church  which,  during  the  present  year,  has  other  walks  of  life.  A  visit  to  the  old 
been,  as  far  as  possible,  restored  to  its  ori-  church  possesses  much  interest.  As  it 
ginal  condition.  stands  now,  restored  as  far  as  possible  to 

And  here  one  cannot  but  be  reminded  its  primitive  condition,  it  is  a  study  for  an 
of  our  indebtedness  to  those  patient,  per-  antiquarian.  The  bells  were  a  gift  from 
sistent  pioneers,  the  brave  Franciscan  the  King  of  Spain,  I  believe  Charles  III., 
Friars,  for  very  much  of  our  present  condi-  about  A.  D.  1800.  The  water  fonts  are 
tion,  not  alone  in  this  valley,  but  through-  of  a  very  peculiar  and  beautiful  marble 
out  the  State.  With  this  thought  in  our  mixed  with  quartz,  yellow  and  white,  and 
minds  we  are  tempted  to  spend  a  few  hours  came  from  Mexico  or  Spain.  The  ceil- 
at  the  Santa  Clara  College,  which  occupies  ing  over  the  altar  enclosure  is  identical 
the  site  of  the  old  church  of  1822,  and  is  with  the  original,  while  the  altar-rail  is  one 
simply  a  continuation,  as  it  were,  of  the  of  the  original  heavy  beams  of  the  ceiling, 
original  work  on  a  broader  plane.  polished  in  a  very  fine  manner.  The 

In  1851  the  Jesuit  Fathers  took  posess-  painting  and  frescoing  throughout  the  en- 
tion  of  the  old  Mission,  and  in  the  same  tire  church  betrays  the  old,  almost  Orient- 
year  founded  Santa  Clara  College.  al  love  for  high  coloring,  which  was  a  trait 

It  would  seem  that  the  ancient  fathers  of  the  Mexican  character.  One  should 
were  inspired  by  prophetic  vision,  as  not  neglect  to  visit  this  old  church  while 
scarcely  a  spot  in  California  could  be  making  his  trip  to  our  valley.  A  very 
selected  more  favorable  for  such  \\ork  lovely  feature  of  the  College  grounds,  and 
than  the  present  site  of  the  College.  The  in-  one  that  always  causes  exclamations  of  de- 


464 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


light,  especially  from  Eastern  visitors,  is  the 
garden,  enclo  sed  in  a  large  court.  Here 
bloom  rare  exotics,  as  the  peculiarly  shel 
tered  position  of  the  court  renders  the  cli 
mate  almost  tropical.  Orange  trees  in  full 
bloom  and  fruit  can  be  seen  in  January 
and  February,  with  other  rare  plants  and 
trees,  which  are  a  source  of  wonder  and 
admiration  to  one  accustomed  to  snow 
and  ice  during  those  months. 

It  would  seem  that  next  in  order  should 
be  a  brief  sketch  of  the  College  of  Notre 
Dame,  conducted  by  the  Sisters  of  that 
Order,  in  San  Jose.  A  few  facts  gleaned 
during  some  very  pleasant  hours  passed  in 
a  visit  to  that  famed  institution,  may  be  of 
interest. 

A  visit  to  a  convent  was  rather  a  new 
experience,  but  one  which  gave  great  pleas 
ure,  from  the  fact  that  almost  at  the  thresh 
old  we  were  met  and  welcomed  by  one 
who, — though  personally  unknown — had 
long  been  known  to  us  through  the  medi 
um  of  her  most  graceful  pen.  Her  noble 
face  with  its  marked  lines  of  strength  and 
womanly  grace,  was  a  pleasant  study. 
From  her  lips  we  obtained  much  of  interest 
concering  the  institution,  and  I  trust  she 
will  pardon  me  for  sometimes  quoting  her 
words.  A  brief  history  of  the  founding  of 
the  Order  of  Notre  Dame  was  new  and  of 
interest  to  us.  "The  Sisters  of  Notre 
Dame/'  she  said,  "are  members  of  a  So 
ciety  of  ladies,  devoted  to  the  education  of 
youth  both  in  Europe  and  America;  Na- 
mur,  Belgium,  being  the  centre  of  the  or 
ganization,  which  though  not  a  century  old, 
has  already  more  than  a  hundred  flourish 
ing  academies  or  colleges,  and  can  count 
its  teachers  by  thousands,  and  its  children 
by  tens  of  thousands." 

The  society  was  the  offspring  of  the  tu 
multuous  times  of  the  French  Revolution. 
It  had  two  foundresses,  one  springing  from 
the  people,  the  other  from  the  nobility. 
In  the  reception  room  we  were  shown  two 
fine  portraits,  representing  these  ladies, 
and  as  we  studied  them  we  could  trace,  in 
the  peasant  "  mother,"  the  firm  lines  of  de 
termination  and  strength,  that  told  of  hard 
won  encounters  in  life.  In  the  other  face, 
was  strength  also,  but  ornamental  with 
the  grace  and  beauty,  which  comes  from 
generations  of  culture  and  refinement. 
But  to  return  to  our  San  Jose  branch. 
In  1843,  the  Sisters  of  Notre  Dame,  in 


Europe,  influenced  by  the  representations 
of  the  zealous  missionary,  Father  de  Smet,  de 
termined  to  establish  a  branch  on  this 
Coast.  After  seven  months  of  a  weary 
perilous  voyage,  the  little  band  of  six 
reached  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  river, 
in  1844,  and  were  seven  years  in  Oregon. 

In  1851,  two  of  the  pioneer  sisters  came 
to  San  Francisco  to  meet  some  others  of 
the  Order  to  arrive  from  Cincinnati,  and 
being  compelled  to  await  the  arrival  of 
these  latter,  they  gladly  accepted  the  invi 
tation  of  Mr.  Martin  Murphy,  of  San  Jose, 
to  visit  his  family,  and  remained  the 
guests"  of  this  noble-hearted  man  and  his 
equally  noble  and  generous  wife  during 
their  stay. 

Such  inducements  were  offered  them  to 
remain  and  found  an  institution  of  learn 
ing  here,  that  they  at  last  resolved  to  do 
so.  The  present  site  was  chosen,  and  un 
der  the  direction  of  Mr.  Levi  Goodrich, 
the  architect,  buildings  were  erected  and  a 
day  and  boarding  school  opened  August 
4,  1851.  In  1855,  the  College  was  incor 
porated  by  the  State  Legislature.  This 
convent  is  the  head  of  the  order  in  Cali 
fornia. 

The  enclosure  contains  ten  acres,  and, 
at  present,  has  the  appearance  of  a  city  by 
itself.  New  and  commodious  buildings, 
and  additions  have  been  made,  until  now 
it  would  seem  that  the  institution  is  most 
complete  in  all  departments.  About  sixty 
sisters  are  in  the  institution,  and  nearly 
eight  hundred  pupils,  including  boarders, 
day  boarders,  pupils  of  select  school  and 
free  school,  and  a  free  school  for  little 
boys  under  eleven  years  of  age.  A  most 
commendable  feature  is  the  free  school 
where  children,  of  those  who  cannot  afford 
to  pay  tu.tition,  receive  the  best  advantages 
"without  money  and  without  price." 
Here  poor  women,  who  are  compelled  to 
go  out  to  their  day's  labor,  can  leave  their 
little  ones  during  the  day,  assured  that 
their  children  will  receive  the  best  of  care 
from  these  noble  women  whose  maternal 
instincts  embrace  all  humanity. 

The  department  of  music  is  under  the 
charge  of  one  of  the  Order,  a  graduate  of 
the  Conservatory  of  Ghent,  and  the  insti 
tution  is  most  thorough  and  complete. 
Twenty  pianos  were  being  manipulated 
most  earnestly  during  our  tour  of  the  es 
tablishment. 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


465 


466  THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 

The  art  department  attracted  us  most  be  exhibited  to  view.  They  were  laying 

strongly,  not  alone  from  the  really  good  the  foundations,  which,  though  not  very 

work  in  painting  and  other  branches,  but  sightly,  were  necessary  to  the  structure." 

also  from  the  gentle,  refined  manner  of  The  doctor  then  gives  a  vivid  picture  of 

the  presiding  genius,  who  bore  under  her  the  doubt  and  perplexity  connected  with 

black  veil  a  face  that  reminded  one  of  the  final  selection  of  a  permanent  site, 

Raphael's  Madonnas.  which,  at  last,  resulted  in  the  choice  of  the 

We  cannot  leave  this  subject  without  present  location.  And  it  would  seem  that 

remarking  upon  the  order  and  system,  like  it  could  not  have  been  a  more  fortunate 

clock-work,  moving  the  daily  machinery  selection.  Situated  midway  between  San 

of  this  large  institution.  The  neatness  and  Jose  and  Santa  Clara,  just  off  the  far- 

cleanness,  the  white  floors  unsullied  by  famed  Alameda,  within  easy  access  of 

contagion-hiding  carpets,  the  snowy  beds  either  city,  by  two  lines  of  street  cars, 

in  the  dormitories,  nestled  away,  each  under  possessing  a  healthful  climate  and  lovely 

its  spotless  curtain,  were  a  few  of  the  many  situation,  one  can  scarcely  see  how  it 

things  that  struck  us  most  favorably,  but  could  be  improved.  Thus,  in  the  early 

which  could  not,  for  lack  of  space,  be  struggles  of  the  founders,  one  can  say  with 

even  mentioned  in  a  magazine  article.  Emerson  : 

Nor  must  we  omit  a  mention  of  the  vener- 

0.          ,,           r*          *•               i  "They  bunded  better  than  they  knew — 

able  Superior,  Sister  Mary    Cornelia,    and  The  conscious  stones  to  beauty  grew." 
the  second  in  authority,  Sister  Mary,   both 

ladies  being  upward  of  seventy  years  of  At  present,  there  are  eighteen  acres  in 
age,  yet  retaining  their  powers  of  mind  the  College  campus,  ornamented  with 
and  body  as  vigorous  as  though  they  were  "  academic  groves,"  and  delightful  ave- 
but  half  that  age.  Nor  yet  one  other  item,  nues-  One  finds  himself  reverting  to  his 
which  speaks  well  for  the  sanitary  manage-  own  lon§  g°ne  sch°o1  days»  and  feels  again 
ment  of  the  institution  :  that  during  thirty-  the  thri11  of  "young  romance,"  as  he 
four  years  but  two  deaths  have  occurred  watches  the  crowds  of  students  of  both 
among  pupils,  and  the  little  "  sick  beds  "  sexes>  with  their  burdens  of  books,  cross- 
are  seldom  used.  'm&  and  recrossing  the  campus.  We  are 

San    Jose    might  well    be    called    the  indebted    to    the    courtesy    of    President 

Athens    of  the    Pacific    Coast,  from    the  Stratton,  and  Professors  F.   W.  Blackmar 

number   and    excellence    of    its    schools.  and    T-  C-  George,   for    a    very    pleasant 

Certainly  no  city  on  the  Coast  has  a  bet-  hour  or  two>  and  many  items  of  interest, 

ter  showing.     A  visit  to  the  University  of  There  are,  at   present,  five  large   build- 

the  Pacific — the  educational  institution  of  ings   on   the    grounds — East    Hall,  West 

the  Methodist  Church  in  California — but  Hall,  South  Hall,  a  new  and  commodious 

confirms  this  opinion.  dining  hall,  and  a  very    fine   observatory. 

The  University  of  the  Pacific  was  East  Hall, is  a  handsome  new  building  erect- 
founded  in  1851,  in  the  town  of  Santa  this  year,  and  is  a  credit  to  the  architect, 
Clara,  and  consisted,  at  that  time,  of  two  Mr.  Levi  Goodrich.  It  is  largely  devoted 
departments,  a  male  and  female — quite  to  the  Preparatory  Department,  but  has 
separate.  Quoting  the  language  of  the  rooms  for  philosophy  and  chemistry  on 
eloquent  Dr.  Sinex,  in  an  address  de-  the  ground  floor.  The  first  floor  is  de 
livered  at  the  laying  of  the  corner  stone  of  voted  to  recitation  rooms ;  the  second  and 
the  new  building,  I  would  say  :  "  In  the  third  floors,  to  sleeping  rooms  for  boys, 
pioneer  days  of  the  commonwealth,  the  The  new  and  elegant  dining-hall  was  in- 
fathers  founded  the  University  of  the  Pa-  spected  with  interest,  especially  the 
cific.  In  buildings  of  the  plainest  archi-  modern  improvements  in  the  kitchen  de- 
tecture,  limited  in  size,  and  inconvenient  partment,  attention  to  which  was  called 
in  arrangement,  with  small  libraries  and  by  the  housekeeper.  A  convenient, 
cabinet,  and  the  simplest  apparatus,  the  commodious  kitchen  is  the  delight  of 
early  professors  endeavored  to  meet  the  every  housekeeper's  heart,  and  this  one 
demand  of  their  patrons  for  a  collegiate  should  be  satisfied. 

education.      Their    embarrassments,  their  The    buildings    are    all    heated     with 

struggles,  their  partial  successes,  need  not  steam,    and   every    attention    is    given    to 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


467 


HIGH     SCHOOL. 


such  hygienic   regulations,  as  ventilation, 
cleanliness,    etc. 

The  professors  thoroughly  understand 
the  necessity  of  combining  recreation 
with  labor,  and  encourage  gymnastic  ex 
ercises  and  games  of  all  kinds.  The 
students  have  an  athletic  club,  base  ball 
clubs,  tennis  courts  and  various  other 
amusements. 

The  students  conduct  two  papers,  the 
Hatchet,  a  weekly — which,  I  trust,  is  not 
as  formidable  as  its  name — and  the  Epoch, 
the  regular  College  paper  issued  every 
third  week. 

The  College  has  a  library  of  over  three 
thousand  volumes,  accumulated  by  dona 
tion  and  purchase,  there  being  no  library 
fund.  It  is  arranged  alphabetically  with 
a  cabinet,  in  the  same  manner  as  the 
library  at  Ann  Arbor. 

Through  the  kindness  of  Professor 
George,  we  were  shown  through  the  new 
observatory,  where  we  were  astonished  to 
find  so  many  valuable  articles  necessary 
to  an  observatory,  all  donated  by  generous 
hands  to  the  University.  We  entered  the 
transit  room  first,  where  was  a  fine  transit 
instrument  costing  one  thousand  dollars, 
and  donated  by  Captain  Goodall  of  San 
Francisco.  In  the  observing  tower  is  a 


fine  six-inch  refracting  telescope,  provided 
with  declination  circles,  right  ascension  or 
hour  circles,  and  driven  by  clock-work, 
the  whole  costing  about  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  dollars,  and  donated  by 
David  Jacks,  Esq.,  of  Monterey.  Pro 
fessor  George  seems  very  enthusiastic  in 
his  chosen  branch  of  astronomony,  but 
also  instructs  in  Natural  Sciences. 

Through  the  kindness  of  several,  in 
cluding  Professor  George,  and  also  F. 
W.  Blackmar,  professor  of  mathematics — 
who,  by  the  way,  has  no  superiorin  the 
State  in  his  chosen  branch — we  carried 
with  us  a  most  pleasant  impression  of  the 
University  of  the  Pacific. 

The  Garden  City  Commercial,  or  Busi 
ness  College,  being  mentioned  to  us  as  one 
the  solid  institutions  of  the  place,  we 
called  one  day  upon  Professor  Worcester 
at  the  College,  for  a  few  items  of  interest 
concerning  it. 

This  is  indeed  a  live  institution  and  we 
found  the  throng  of  young  ladies  and  gen 
tlemen,  as  busy  as  only  a  thorough,  wide 
awake  teacher  can  make  them. 

Professor  Worcester  is  a  man  of  much 
character,  and  has  had  many  varied  experi 
ences,  before  locating  in  San  Jose.  In 
1 86 1  he  entered  the  army,  with  the  first 


468 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


call  made  for  six  hundred  thousand 
troops.  Was  in  the  i8th  Wisconsin  regi 
ment  of  Grant's  army,  in  Sherman's  Divis 
ion  at  Pittsburg  Landing.  After  the 
close  of  the  war,  he  pursued  his  academic 
studies  in  Chicago,  and  received  a  thor 
ough  business  education  and  training. 

He  removed  to  California  and  became 
the  proprietor  of  this  institution  on  the 
first  of  January,  1877,  beginning  the  school 
first  in  his  own  parlors.  Then  followed 
some  years  of  a  hard  struggle  to  secure 
and  maintain  a  solid  foundation  for  his 
school.  During  this  time  ten  other  schools 


schools  and  colleges.     And  he  deserves  it. 

While  we  are  on  the  subject  of  schools, 
mention  must  be  made  of  the  public 
schools  of  San  Jose,  which  are  at  present 
under  the  management  of  City  Superin- 
tendant  L.  F.  Curtis,  aided  by  a  corps  of 
thorough  and  efficient  teachers.  Great 
credit  is  due  Mr.  Curtis  for  the  excellent 
standing  of  the  schools,  and  the  good  work 
done  by  teachers  and  pupils  during  the 
past  year. 

Besides  these  mentioned,  the  State  Nor 
mal  School  is  located  in  San  Jose,  which, 
under  the  generalship  of  that  veteran  edu- 


HON.  B.  D.  MURPHY. 


were  opened  in  opposition,  but  one  by 
one  closed  out,  until  at  present  he  has  no 
rival  in  the  field,  which  fact  certainly 
speaks  well  for  his  patience  and  persever 
ance. 

This  institution  is  regularly  fitted  for 
thorough  training  and  instruction  in  all 
those  branches  pertaining  to  a  Business 
College. 

There  are  about  one  hundred  and  twen 
ty-five  pupils  in  attendance  ;  and  when 
one  considers  that  the  course  is  only  of  six 
months  duration,  and  that  during  the  year 
the  number  would  be  doubled,  he  will  un 
derstand  that  Professor  Worcester  certain 
ly  has  his  share  of  pupils  in  this  city  of 


cator,  Professor  Charles  H.  Allen,  ranks 
equal  to  any  similar  institution  in  the 
United  States. 

So  closely  entwined  is  the  name  of  Mur 
phy  with  the  history  of  Santa  Clara  county 
that  one  finds  it  impossible  to  separate  the 
two  histories  were  he  inclined  to  do  so. 
But  so  much  has  our  County  been  benefitted 
and  honored  by  the  members  of  that 
numerous  family,  that  we  find  no  one  who 
does  not  rejoice  at  this  close  connection. 

The  oldest  representative  of  the  family 
now  living  is  Mrs.  Mary  Murphy,  widow  ot 
the  late  Martin  Murphy,  and  mother  of 
several  children,  among  whom  are  Hon. 
P.  W.  Murphy  of  San  Luis  Obispo;  Hon. 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA.  469 

B.  D.  Murphy,  of  San  Jose  ;  Mrs.  Carroll,  than    fifty    years.     One    by  one    she   had 

of  San  Francisco ;  Mrs.  Arques,  of  Santa  seen  the  coffin  lid  close  over  six  children, 

Clara,  and  James  T.  Murphy.  precious    as    only    children    can    be    to  a 

The  story  of  her  life  reads  like   a  page  tender  mother  heart,  yet  this  last  blow  was 

from  romance,  so  filled  is  it  with  incidents  saddest  of  all  to  the  true  wife,  and  since 

of  travel  and  adventure.     She  was  married  that  time  her  health  has  been  frail.     The 

on  the  1 8th  of  July,  1831,  to  Martin  Mur-  writer  .enjoyed  a  very  pleasant  call  upon  this 

phy,   in  Quebec,  Canada,  where  they  re-  venerable  woman  and  from  her  lips   heard 

mained  until  1832,  when,   on  account  of  much  that  is  given  in  this  sketch.    While 

cholera,  they  joined  her  father  at  Framp-  listening  to  her,  one  seems  to  feel  with  her 

ton.  the  pangs  known  only  to  a  woman's  heart, 

On  September,  of  1842,   Mr.  and  Mrs.  endured  by  these  brave  women  of  pioneer 

Murphy  decided  to  take  the  long  journey  days  ;    the    lonely    watching    over    cradle 

to  the   then  wild  West,  Missouri.     Every  beds  ;  the  sadder  vigil  over  tiny  coffins  ; 

mother's  heart  can  sympathize  with  Mrs.  the  perils  of  maternity  so    bravely  borne, 

Murphy's    feelings    at  leaving  forever  the  and  all  the  thousand  nameless  experiences 

little  graves  of  her  two  first-born  children,  which  can  never  be  voiced. 

They  remained,  however,  but  two  years  It  is  pleasant  to  know  that  now,  in  her 
in  Missouri,  when  the  long,  lonely  trip  beautiful  home,  surrounded  by  all  that  wealth 
across  the  plains  was  begun.  About  May  and  love  can  give  her,  carefully  attended 
i,  1843,  tnev  teft  Council  Bluffs,  Missouri,  by  children  and  grand-children,  to  whom 
in  company  with  a  large  company  of  rela-  she  is  ever  beloved  and  revered,  and 
tives  and  friends,  and  were  ten  months  in  whose  little  attentions  are  unceasing,  she 
making  the  trip.  Think  of  that,  you  who  will  be  sheltered  from  every  jar  of  life  and 
fly  across  that  space  now  in  four  or  five  cherished  as  she  deserves, 
days!  Try  to  picture  the  toil  and  privation  As  I  stood  upon  her  porch  at  parting 
borne  by  this  band  of  brave  pioneers,  from  her,  and  watched  her  venerable  face 
whose  wagons  were  first  to  leave  their  im-  enshrined  in  its  snowy  lace — almost  saint- 
press  upon  the  untracked  soil  of  Califor-  like  in  its  serenity — smiling  upon  her  sons 
nia!  They  made  their  own  roads,  these  and  daughters  who  had  come  to  spend 
travelers;  they  were  their  own  guides,  Thanksgiving  day  with  the  dear  "little 
trusting  their  own  lives  and  fates  to  the  mother,"  and  thought  what  noble  men 
hand  of  an  all-wise  Ruler,  who  "  made  the  and  women  she  had  given  to  our  State  in 
way  plain  "  for  them.  Hardest  of  all,  it  her  sons  and  daughters,  it  seemed  to  me 
seems,  was  the  lot  of  these  brave  women  that  not  only  "her  children  rise  up  and 
to  whom  children  were  born  on  the  road,  call  her  blessed  "  but  many  others  should 
In  the  lonely  wilderness  they  passed  down  do  so. 

into  the  dark  waters  whose  waves  must  en-       May  she   be  spared    many  years    to  her 

compass  every  woman  who  wins  the  sacred  family  and  friends  and  may  her  name  de 

crown    of    motherhood.     On    the    Yuba  scend  to  posterity  with  all  the  honor  which 

river  was  born  the  first  white  child  in  Cal-  it  deserves. 

ifornia,  which  was  a  daughter  to  Mr.  and        It  would  scarcely  be  proper  to  leave  this 

Mrs.  Martin  Murphy.     She  was  christened  subject  without  a  brief  reference  to   Hon. 

Elizabeth,  and  afterwards  became  the  wife  B.  D.    Murphy,  her  son.     His  name  is  so 

of  William  P.  Taffe.     In   1850,   Mr.  and  closely  connected  with  the  social  and  politi- 

Mrs.    Murphy    removed    to    Santa    Clara  cal  history  of   our  section  that  it  could  not 

county.     Their  golden    wedding   anniver-  well  be  omitted. 

sary  was  celebrated  in  July,  1881,  and  was        He  has  served    four  terms  as    Mayor  of 

perhaps   the    grandest    fete    ever   held   in  San  Jose,  four  terms  as  State  Senator,  in  the 

California.     Children,  grandchildren,  rela-  Assembly  a  term  or  so,  has  held,  I  do  not 

tives  and  friends  came  from  nearly  every  know  how  many  other  positions,  and  is  yet 

part    of   the    State,    to    congratulate    the  a  young  man  in  years.     Honorable    and 

honored    couple.     In    1884    the    hardest  upright  in  every  walk  of  life,  a  man  whose 

trial    she  had  ever   borne   came   to   Mrs.  word    is  as  good   as  his  bond,  and    whose 

Murphy  in  the  death  of  the  noble  husband  hand  is  ever  extended  in  sympathy  to   the 

by   whose  side  she  had  walked  for  more  afflicted,  such  is  B.  D.  Murphy. 


470 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


RESIDENCE   OF    MRS.  MARTIN   MURPHY. 


In  this  connection  I  am  reminded  of 
a  pretty  little  legend  of  a  tree  that  grew 
and  flourished  beyond  its  fellows  be 
cause  it  was  nourished  and  supported  by  a 
hidden  fountain.  When  one  enters  Mr. 
Murphy's  home — "home  "  is  the  right 
word  here — and  meets  the  bright,  intelli 
gent  woman  who  reigns  there  as  its  queen 
and  the  mother  of  the  fair  bevy  of  boys 
and  girls  who  throng  the  wide  halls,  we 
know  where  is  the  hidden  fountain  of  his 
happiness  and  prosperity  ;  that  from  her 
lovely  eyes  radiates  the  sunshine  that  bless 
es  the  hearts  of  her  husband  and  children; 
and  we  say  with  one  of  old  :  "  The  heart 
of  her  husband  doth  safely  trust  in  her ; 
she  doeth  him  good  and  not  evil  all  the 
days  of  her  life." 

The  appearance  of  Mr.  Murphy's  pic 
ture  in  this  article  will  surprise  no  one  so 
much  as  himself  as  it  was  a  little  plan  of 
his  friends  to  insert  it  without  his  knowl 
edge. 

In  writing  of  San  Jose  and  her   people 


there  are  some  names  that  are  so  truly  a  part 
of  her  history,  so  closely  connected  with 
her  interests,  that  one  cannot  refrain 
from  giving  them  a  brief  mention  at  the 
risk  of  being  personal. 

Among  the  prominent  women, — I  like 
the  word  woman, — could  be  mentioned 
the  name,  of  Mrs.  Sarah  L.  Knox-Good- 
rich,  who  has  a  national  reputation  as  a 
worker  in  the  cause  of  Woman  Suffrage,— 
and  a  zealous  and  capable  worker,  she  is, 
in  any  enterprise  that  she  undertakes. — 
Mrs.  L.  J.  Watkins,  and  Mrs.  E.(O.  Smith, 
workers  in  the  same  cause,  are  women  of 
power,  and  executive  ability.  Mrs.  S.  J. 
Churchill,  president  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.,  is 
another  strong  worker  ;  and  one  must  not 
forget  those  talented  writers  Mrs.  Mary  H. 
Field,  and  Mrs.  Nellie  Eyster  ;  nor  Mrs. 
Murphy  Columbet,  who  has  watched  San 
Jose's  growth  since  her  childhood ;  nor 
Mrs.  E.  H.  Guppy,  who  is  not  only  a 
queen  among  mothers  and  home  keepers, 
but  her  husband's  partner  and  confidante 


THE    GOLDEN    ERA. 


471 


in  his  business.  And  many  more  strong, 
brave  earnest  women  could  be  named,  not 
only  as  occupying  prominent  positions 
but  as  silent  capable  workers  in  Life's 
great  harvest  field.  I  think  God's  master 
piece  was  a  strong,  brave,  true,  womanly 
woman,  and  he  has  done  well  by  San  Jose. 

Among  the  gentlemen  of  San  Jose  none 
deserves,  or  receives  more  respect  from 
his  fellow  citizens,  than  Judge  Lawrence 
Archer,  who  has  been  for  many  years, 
prominently  before  the  people.  He  has 
been  twice  Mayor  of  the  city,  and  in  that 
capacity  received  General  Grant  and  party 
during  their  visit  to  San  Jose.  He  served 
one  term  on  the  County  bench,  and  one 
term  in  the  Legislature — 1875  and  1876, 
where  he  obtained  a  record  for  "  making 
things  lively"  among  the  Solons.  Always 
a  conscientious  and  consistent  Democrat, 
his  adherence  to  principle  has  been  un 
swerving. 

Judge  Archer  is  another  member  of  that 
fraternity,  "Old  Californians  "  —  as  he 
crossed  the  plains  in  the  standard  way  in 
1852,  leaving  a  good  law  practice,  and 
resigning  the  office  of  District  attorney  in 
St.  Joseph  Mo.,  on  account  of  failing 
health.  He  has  resided  in  San  Jose  ever 
since  his  arrival  in  January,  1853. 

Another  representative  man  is  State 
Senator  James  R.  Lowe.  Born  in  Massa 
chusetts,  in  1 840;  he  came  with  his  parents 
to  California  in  1852,  and  received  his 
education  at  Gates'  Institute  in  this  city. 
He  studied  law  with  Hon.  F.  E.  Spencer, 
present  Superior  Judge,  and  is  one  of  the 
successful  lawyers  of  this  city.  He  was  ap 
pointed  U.  S  Consul  to  the  City  of  Te- 
hauntepec,  Mexico,  in  1866,  by  President 
Andrew  Johnson,  and  represented  the 
United  States  at  that  place,  at  the  time 
Maximilian  was  shot  by  decree  of  Presi 
dent  Juarez.  In  1876,  Mr.  Lowe  was 
elected  President  of  the  Board  of  Educa 
tion  of  San  Jose,  and  held  that  office  for 
two  successive  terms,  during  which  time 
the  schools  were  managed  to  the  entire  sat 
isfaction  of  the  people  of  the  city,  and  in  a 
manner  unexcelled  before  or  since.  He 
was  elected  State  Senator  on  the  Republi 
can  ticket  in  Santa  Clara  County  by  a  very 
large  majority.  His  record  as  a  Senator  is 
among  the  best,  and  he  is  regarded  as 
among  the  ablest  members  of  that  body. 
Mr.  Lowe's  wife  was  a  former  teacher  in 


San  Jose,  and  a  lady  of  much  culture  and 
refinement. 

Among  our  illustrations  appears  the  Bap 
tist  Tabernacle,  and  its  pastor,  Rev.  N.  F. 
Ravlin.  The  congregation  of  the  Taberna 
cle  is  quite  independent  of  the  Baptist  or 
ganization,  having  been  separated  through 
the  independent  and  outspoken  sentiments 
of  Dr.  Ravlin.  The  doctor  is  quite  a  de 
cided  character,  whom  we  studied  with 
much  interest,  while  listening  to  his  lecture 
recently  given  on  the  Chinese  Problem, 
trying  to  discover  the  secret  of  his  great 
power  over  his  immense  congregations. 
He  speaks  in  sympathy  with  the  masses, 
upon  subjects  vital  to  them,  and  in  a  man 
ner  easily  comprehended.  Of  a  strong,  de 
cided,  independent  nature,  he  fights  wrong 
and  oppression,  with  the  Bible  in  one  hand 
and  the  sword  of  justice  in  the  other.  He 
is  evidently  formed  for  a  leader;  has  very 
warm  friends,  and,  as  is  the  fate  of  all 
strong  characters— bitter  enemies.  He  was 
born,  raised,  and  educated  in  New  York, 
the  son  of  Rev.  Thomas  Ravlin,  and  or 
dained  in  1853.  During  his  discourse  he 
was  frequently  interrupted  by  applause, 
every  member  of  his  congregation  being 
intensely  attentive,  and  alive  to  his  re 
marks.  I  wish  I  could  give  a  synopsis  of 
his  discourse,  which  was  given  with  much 
force,  as  he  kept  restlessly  walking  up  and 
down  the  platform,  and  pulling  his  black 
mustache.  The  Tabernacle  folks  are  not 
insensible  to  the  power  of  other  attractions, 
as  they  have  a  fine  organ,  and  organist, 
and  a  choir  which  includes  San  Jose's 
sweetest  vocalists.  It  may  be  stated,  en 
passant,  that  the  congregation  of  the  Tab 
ernacle  have  entered  into  a  written  contract 
with  Dr.  Ravlin  for  two  years  longer.  It 
is  evident  they  do  not  intend  to  let  him  get 
away  from  them. 

One  of  the  well-known  men  of  San  Jose 
is  James  A.  Clayton,  whose  genial  counte 
nance  affects  his  friends  like  sunshine.  He 
is  one  of  the  old  residents  of  San  Jose, 
whose  fortunes  have  "grown  with  her  growth, 
and  strengthened  with  her  strength."  He 
is  a  native  of  England,  but  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1839,  when  he  was  a 
child.  In  company  with  his  brother,  Joel 
Clayton,  he  crossed  the  plains  to  Califor 
nia  in  1850,  from  Wisconsin.  On  the 
25th  of  August  of  the  same  year,  he  took 
up  his  residence  in  Santa  Clara,  acting  as 


472 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


COURT    HOUSE. 


clerk  for  his  brother  Charles,  who  had 
been  a  resident  of  this  valley  since  1848. 
But  after  the  manner  of  many  new-comers 
— and  old  residents  also — Mr.  Clayton 
could  not  resist  the  fascination  of  the  mines. 
He  went  to  the  "diggings,"  in  1851,  and 
worked  there  awhile ;  then  went  to  Aus 
tralia,  and  tried  the  mines  there.  But 
California  had  thrown  her  charm  so  close 
ly  about  him,  that  she  drew  him  back  to 
her  shores  in  1852.  After  several  changes 
he  finally  located  in  San  Jose,  in  1856, 
where  he  purchased  a  photograph  gallery — 
which  he  owned  about  thirteen  years.  In 
1861  he  was  elected  County  clerk,  and 
served  two  terms.  In  1867  he  established 
his  well-known  real-estate  business  and  has 
continued  in  that  ever  since.  His  busi 
ness  is  very  extensive,  and  his  name  is 
known  throughout  the  length  and  breadth 
of  the  State.  '  Lately  Mr.  Clayton  has  been 
resting  on  his  laurels,  so  to  speak,  and 
putting  into  active  harness  his  sons — in 
the  same  business.  His  family  consists  of 
six  children.  If  I  had  not  started  out  with 
the  assertion  that  Mr.  Clayton  was  an 
Englishman,  it  would  be  quite  reasonable 
to  imagine  him  a  Yankee,  from  his  pecu- 
larly  Yankee-like  experiences,  and  early 
life  of  change  and  adventure. 

As  a  citizen,  and  in  his  social  and  busi 
ness  relations,  the  name  of  James  A.  Clay 


ton  has  become  a  synonym  for  honesty, 
integrity,  and  purity  of  motives. 

What  man,  woman  or  child  in  San  Jose 
is  not  familiar  with  the  name  and  counten 
ance  of  Samuel  A.  Bishop?  Genial,  hap 
py,  generous — a  warm  friend,  and  a  pub 
lic  benefactor,  he  is  universally  respected 
and  esteemed. 

Mr.  Bishop  was  the  originator  and 
builder  of  the  first  horse  railway  in  Ais 
city,  which  was  built  in  1868,  between 
San  Jose  and  Santa  Clara.  On  the  first 
day  of  August  the  first  rail  was  placed,  and 
on  the  first  day  of  November,  of  the  same 
year,  the  first  trip  was  made  in  the  cars, 
which  was  to  convey  passengers  to  a  politi 
cal  meeting  held  in  Santa  Clara,  during 
the  presidential  campaign,  preceding  Gen 
eral  Grant's  first  election. 

Mr.  Bishop  is  at  present  president  and 
manager,  and  one  of  the  principal  owners, 
of  the  San  Jose  and  Santa  Clara  line  of 
street  railways,  together  with  the  "  People's" 
line,  that  has  been  consolidated  with  the 
former,  and  runs  from  Reed  and  Ninth 
streets  through  Stockton  Avenue  to  the 
Alameda. 

Mr.  Bishop's  plans  and  schemes  are  al 
ways  something  unique,  conceived  upon 
the  broad  basis  of  benefit  to  his  fellow 
men ;  and  he  generally  succeeds  in  his 
undertakings.  His  life  of  strange  adveh- 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


47S 


ture  would  fill  an  interesting  volume,  and 
he  has  kindly  promised  sometime  to  allow 
some  of  his  experiences  to  be  placed  be 
fore  the  reading  public.  A  brief 
sketch  of  him,  as  this  necessarily  is, 
can  in  no  wise  do  him  justice.  Beginning 
his  career  in  Albermarle  County,  Virginia, 
on  the  second  of  September,  1825,  his  life 
has  been  one  shifting  scene  of  change,  ad 
venture  and  ups  and  downs,  until  within 
a  few  years.  Coming  to  California  in 
1849,  he  explored  nearly  every  mile  of 
Southern  California,  besides  much  of  Ari 
zona  and  New  Mexico,  and  his  experiences 


resided  ever  since,  with  the  exception  of  a 
brief  absence  during  a  bad  attack  of 
mining  fever  in  an  early  day.  He  tells  of 
a  severe  toothache  which  attacked  him 
soon  after  his  arrival  here.  But  there  was 
no  other  physician,  and  no  dentist,  there 
fore  he  sought  the  kind  services  of  a  black 
smith  who  relieved  him  of  his  ache  and 
his  tooth. 

Among  the  physicians  of  later  date 
might  be  mentioned  the  name  of  Dr.  W. 
S.  Thome,  who  bore  credentials  from  the 
State  Medical  Society  to  the  British  Medi 
cal  Association,  which  met  at  Cambridge 


HON.    LAWRENCE     ARCHER. 


sound  like  an  extract  from  the    "Arabian 
Nights  Entertainments." 

Another  old  land  mark— long  may  he 
remain  to  us — is  Dr.  Benjamin  Cory,  the 
oldest  resident  physician,  not  only  of  this 
County,  but  of  California.  He  arrived  in 
Oregon  City  in  October  of  1847,  DUt  came 
almost  immediately  to  California,  arriving 
in  San  Francisco  Nov.  zyth  of  the  same 
year,  on  the  anniversary  of  his  twenty-fifth 
birthday.  But  there  were  two  physicians, 
since  deceased,  already  in  that  burg, 
more  than  it  needed,  thought  Dr.  Cory, 
and  hearing  of  the  pueblo  of  San  Jose,  he 
came  here  two  weeks  later,  where  he  has 


in  the  year  1879.  During  his  absence 
Dr.  Thorne  made  the  tour  of  Europe, 
visiting  all  the  great  hospitals  of  Paris, 
Vienna,  London,  Italy,  Ireland,  England 
and  Scotland.  He  is  an  enthusiast  in  his 
profession,  which  fact  explains  his  suc 
cess  and  popularity,  as  evinced  by  his 
large  practice.  He  is  a  graduate  of 
Bellevue  College  Hospital,  but  received 
his  classical  education  in  Virginia. 

Dr.  William  Simpson  has  a  well-earned 
reputation  as  an  oculist  and  aurist,  aside 
from  his  general  practice.  He  is  careful, 
conscientious  and  skillful  in  his  treatment 
of  that  delicate  organ,  the  eye,  and  his 


474 


THE    GOLDEN    ERA. 


SENATOR    JAMES    R.    LOWE. 


eye-practice  is  very  large.  The  Doctor  is 
a  New  York  man  by  birth  and  education. 
He  was,  at  one  time,  physician  to  the 
Children's  Aid  Society,  and  first  resident 
physician  to  the  Children's  Sea-side  Home 
at  Coney  Island.  He  is  a  graduate  of  the 
Long  Island  College  Hospital  at  Brooklyn, 
and  attended  lectures  at  the  New  York 
Homeopathic  College. 

One  of  the  unique  institutions  of  San 
Jose  is  the  establishment  of  Dr.  Jennie  E. 
Williams,  who  makes  a  specialty  of  vapor, 
magnetic  and  electric  baths,  followed  by 
massage,  a  process  that  is  certainly  the 
quintessence  of  luxury.  The  Doctor  is  a 
warm,  living  battery  of  magnetic  power 
and  force,  and  infuses  her  spirit  into  the 
depressed  patients  in  a  manner  that  pro 
duces  most  satisfactory  results.  To  a 
weary,  half-sick,  depressed  mortal,  I 
know  of  nothing  that  is  a  greater  renewer 
of  life  and  energy  than  an  hour  passed  in 
Dr.  Williams'  hands. 

A  firm  most  eminently  representative  of 
Californian  enterprise  and  executive  ability, 
is  that  of  the  Hale  Brothers,  a  branch  of 
whose  establishment  is  located  in  San  Jose. 

The  firm  originated  in  San  Jose,  com 
mencing  business  in  1876,  in  a  small  store, 


on  a  somewhat  retired  street,  and  with  a 
very  modest  stock  of  dry  goods.  The 
members  were  Marshall  Hale  and  his  two 
sons,  O.  A.  Hale  and  E.  W.  Hale,  and 
they  employed  one  clerk.  The  firm  now 
consists  of  the  four  brothers,  O.  A.  Hale,* 
E.  W.  Hale,  P.  C.  Hale  and  F.  D.  Cobb, 
a  half  brother.  They  have  extensive  estab 
lishments  in  Sacramento,  Stockton,  Peta- 
luma,  Salinas  and  San  Jose,  and  their  dai 
ly  business  transactions  exceed  in  value 
the  whole  combined  stock  of  the  little 
original  nucleus  store,  around  which  this 
great  business  has  gathered.  O.  A.  Hale, 
the  manager,  and  one  of  the  leading  spirits 
of  the  business  is  a  Napoleon  in  his  line. 
Modest  and  unassuming,  almost  to  a 
fault,  yet  his  wonderful  executive  ability, 
his  power  to  grasp  details  and  convert 
them  into  a  harmonious  whole,  his  ability 
to  keep  the  whole  complicated  machinery 
running  noiselessly  and  frictionless,  are 
seldom  seen  in  one  man,  and  he  is  pecu 
liarly  fortunate  in  having  the  hearty  co-op 
eration  of  every  member  of  the  firm.  The 
brothers  come  from  a  mercantile  stock,  the 
father,  Mr.  Marshall  Hale,  having  been  in 
that  business  many  years  in  New  York, 
and  always  bore  the  name  of  a  square 


THE    GOLDEN    ERA. 


475 


dealer,  and  a  man  of  fine  business  abilities. 
It  would  appear  that  the  sons  are  examples 
of  inherited  genius. 

P.  C.  Hale  resides  in  New  York  city, 
and  superintends  the  purchasing  for  the 
different  establishments,  as  also  for  the 
commission  and  wholesale  house  of  R.  W. 
Burtis,  a  gentleman  who  is  married  to 
Miss  Delia  Hale,  a  sister  of  the  Hale 
Brothers.  The  manager  of  the  Salinas 
branch  is  Mr.  Nathan  Clark,  who  has  been 


of  this  cash  system  into  their  business  is 
very  amusing.  As  he  said,  some  were  of 
fended,  some  indignant,  and  some  left  the 
store  never  to  return  again,  and  for  weeks 
there  was  a  "general  circus,"  But  the  busi 
ness  has  settled  into  its  even  tenor  at  last, 
and  now  credit  is  never  solicited. 

Of  the  Superior  Judges,  David  Belden, 
of  Department  i,  and  Francis  E.  Spencer, 
of  Department  2,  are  the  present  incum 
bents.  Judge  Belden  is  an  old  Califor- 


NEW   ODD   FELLOW'S   HALL. 


in  their  employ  for  eight  years.  The  Pet- 
aluma  store  is  in  charge  of  J.  W.  Miller; 
the  Stockton  branch  is  under  the  manage 
ment  of  Mr.  F.  D.  Cobb ;  and  the  Sacra 
mento  branch  under  the  care  of  E.  W. 
Hale  ;  while  Mr.  O.  A.  Hale,  circulates 
among  them  all  like  the  genius  of  order, 
inspiring  energy,  enthusiasm  and  industry 
into  whatever  establishment  he  enters. 

-For  many  years  the  firm  has  dealt 
strictly  on  a  cash  basis  in  every  respect. 
Mr.  Hale's  account  of  their  first  institution 


nian,  having  come  to  California  in  1853, 
and  entered  the  practice  of  law  in  Neva 
da  County.  He  served  as  State  Senator 
from  Nevada  County  two  terms.  He 
came  to  S^n  Jose  in  1869,  and  became 
Judge  in  1871. 

Judge  Spencer  is  a  native  of  New  York, 
but  came  to  California  in  1852,  and  has 
resided  in  San  Jose  ever  since.  His  edu 
cation  was  completed  in  California,  and 
he  was  admitted  to  the  Supreme  Court  in 
1858.  He  went  immediately  into  active 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


practice,  especially  in  land  matters.  He 
served  as  District  Attorney  from  1860  to 
1865. 

Among  the  many  handsome  buildings 
of  San  Jose  may  be  mentioned  Paul 
Block,  owned  by  a  former  resident  and  one 
upon  whom  Santa  Clara  county  jealously 
desires  to  retain  a  partial  hold — Mr.  D. 
M.  Delmas,  of  San  Francisco,  who  stands 
to-day  at  the  very  front  of  the  California 
Bar.  A  gentleman  endowed  with  the  god 
like  gift  of  eloquence  ;  possessed  of  tho 
divine  faculty  of  extracting  more  power 
and  sweetness  from  the  English  language 
than  any  other  man  on  the  Coast.  A  man 
whose  honor  and  principle  are  beyond 
question  ;  whose  denunciation  of  wrong 
and  fraud  is  fearless,  and  as  fierce  as  the 
lightning  blast  ;  yet  whose  sympathy  for 
the  oppressed  and  down-trodden  is  as 
warm  and  genial  as  our  own  August  sun 
shine. 

We  give  an  illustration  of  the  New  Odd 
Fellows'  Hall,  one  of  the  handsomest 
buildings  in  the  city.  In  November  of 
1884,  the  site  of  the  new  building  was 
selected  and  purchased  at  a  cost  of  ten 
thousand  dollars.  The  architecture  and 
general  construction  of  the  new  build 
ing  was  entrusted  to  Jacob  Lanzen  &  Son, 
and  the  contract  for  its  building 
was  awarded  to  D.  H.  Kelsey.  The 
corner-stone  was  laid  in  April,  1885,  and 
the  work  has  progressed  satisfactorily  un 
til  its  completion  about  one  month  ago. 
The  cost  of  the  building  has  been  only 
about  thirty-two  thousand  dollars,  which, 
considering  its  architectural  beauty,  is  very 
little,  and  reflects  credit  upon  its  architect 
and  builder. 

On  Monday,  December  ist,  1885,  the 
ceremonies  of  dedication  were  held  in  the 
main  hall,  which  was  crowded  with  spec 
tators. 

The  ceremony  was  very  beautiful  and 
impressive,  and  was  conducted  by  the 
Grand  Master,  Grand  Marshall,  and  other 
officers.  At  the  close  of  the  ceremonies, 
Miss  Virginia  Calhoun  read  a  dedicatory 
ode,  written  by  Mrs.  M.  H.  Field.  The 
address  delivered  by  John  B.  Harmon, 
Past  Grand  Sire  of  the  Order,  was  elo 
quent  and  impressive.  In  the  evening  a 
grand  ball  was  given  by  the  members  of 


the  Order,  at  the  Turn  Verein  Hall.  Be 
fore  the  ceremony  of  dedication,  Grand 
Secretary  Lyon  offered  a  resolution  that 
the  Order  cause  the  flags  of  the  building 
to  be  placed  at  half-mast  for  the  death  of 
Vice  President  Hendricks,  which  was  car 
ried. 

Of  the  various  real  estate  men  the  firm 
of  Cordell  &  Blaney  may  be  mentioned  as 
among  the  most  enterprising  and  honor 
able.  They  have  a  connection  with  a  San 
Francisco  firm  and  also  extensive  acquain 
tance  and  correspondence  throughout  the 
State.  From  personal  experience  we  can 
recommend  them  as  "square  men." 

I  cannot  close  this  sketch  without  a 
kindly  mention  of  the  St.  James  Hotel  and 
its  proprietor,  Mr.  Tyler  Beach  and  his 
helpful  wife  who  made  our  stay  there  so 
homelike  and  pleasant  that  we  left  them 
with  reluctance. 

The  St.  James  Hotel  is  situated  on 
First  street,  opposite  St.  James  Park,  a 
most  fortunate  site  for  a  hotel.  In  its 
management,  order,  neatness  and  thorough 
attention  to  guests  are  the  characteristics. 
This  little  notice  is  simply  a  sincere  offer 
ing  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tyler  Beach  for  their 
kind  and  uniform  courtesy  and  their  supe 
rior  management  of  the  hotel. 

It  is  in  contemplation  to  erect  soon  on 
the  site  of  the  present  hotel,  a  larger  and 
more  commodious  structure,  that  will  be 
more  in  keeping  with  the  managing  capac-% 
ity  of  the  owners  than  is  the  present 
smaller  building — a  consummation  sincere 
ly  to  be  desired  by  the  San  Joseans,  as 
the  city  needs  a  larger  hotel  than  it  yet  has- 
and  Mr.  Beach  is  just  the  man  to  make  it 
a  success. 

The  principal  newspapers  are  the  Her- 
ald.  Newt)  Mercury  and  Santa  Clara 
Valley.  To  those  who  extended  to  us 
kindly  journalistic  courtesies  we  desire  to 
express  our  gratitude.  Only  those  of  ",the 
guild"  can  fully  appreciate  such  kindness. 

And  thus  ends  our  sketch  of  San  Jose, 
containing  merely  a  brief  mention  of  a  very 
few  of  the  prominent  points  and  people. 
The  County  has  been  the  home  of  the  writ 
er  for  many  years  and  its  institutions  and 
interests  are  very  dear. 

CARRIE  STEVENS  WALTER, 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


493 


I  was  sick,  and  we  fell  behind  with  our 
board,  and  had  to  move  from  post  to  pil 
lar.  I  did  not  know  where  to  address  a 
letter  to  my  husband,  but  left  one  for  him 
at  each  place  we  vacated,  so  he  might  trace 
us.  But  he  has  never  found  us,  though  I 
feel  sure  he  has  tried,  and  is  trying  if  he 
still  lives  ;  but  sometimes  I  fear  that  on 
his  way  back  to  us  he  was  foully  dealt  with 
for  his  money.  The  people  we  lived 
amongst  when  he  went  away  were  very  un 
kind.  They  said  he  had  deserted  us.  But 
they  were  only  jealous  ;  for  they  had  often 
heard  him  tell  me  that  when  he  got  his  in 
heritance  and  could  take  me  to  his  people's 
home,  it  would  seem  a  palace  to  me.  He 
may  now  have  a  title,  who  knows  !  I  still 
keep  hoping  on,  hoping  on  :  and  my  Paul 
has  fine  prospects,  if  he  does  look  poor ; 
finer  than  many  in  the  school  who  can 
laugh  at  him  now." 

I  overheard  this  recital  and  it  made 
Paul  appear  to  me  like  many  of  the  prin 
ces  in  disguise  of  whom  I  had  read  in  my 
fairy  tales.  It  interwove  that  strong  fibre, 
romantic  feeling,  into  my  friendship  for 
him. 

He  continued  to  miss  in  his  classes  all 
winter  and  was  in  such  constant  disfavor 
with  the  teacher  that  I  again  cast  about  in 
my  mind  for  a  plan  by  which  a  "  gentle 
man's  son "  might  earn  enough  to  buy 
fuel  and  light  to  study  by.  One  day,  hav 
ing  matured  this  plan,  I  cautiously  suggest 
ed  it  to  him.  I  said:  "  The  Judge's  lit 
tle  boy,  who  lives  next  door  to  us,  sat  to 
an  artist  and  the  artist  gave  him  a  handful 
of  money  for  it.  The  artist  called  it 
making  the  boy  a  present  of  the  money, 
but  of  course  it  was  paying  Guy,  and  he 
only  called  it  a  present  because  Guy  did 
not  need  the  money.  You  could  sit  to  an 
artist  too." 

Paul  seemed  delighted,  so  we  formed  a 
plan  to  elude  our  legitimate  school  and  go 
the  next  day  to  the  School  of  Design 
where  he  could  offer  himself  as  a  model. 
Paul  still  wore  the  talma  and  Reuben's 
hat  and  looked  a  very  sketchable  figure  as 
he  presented  himself  bashfully  to  the  prin 
ciple,  saying  : 

"Sir,  do  you  want  a    boy  for  a  model?" 

A  minute  before  he  had,  perhaps,  not 
thought  of  wanting  a  boy,  but  he  said 
promptly,  "I  do  whenever  I  see  one  like 
you;"  and  he  drew  the  picturesque  figure 


into  the  antique  room  where  the  life-class 
sat.  After  their  delight  subsided,  Paul 
asked  timidly  : 

'  *  How  much  do  you  pay  ?" 

"  A  dollar  an  hour,  my  man." 

Paul's  face  beamed.  He  drew  me  be 
hind  a  green  curtain  and  whispered  :  "A 
dollar  an  hour  !  Ten  dollars  or  eight  a 
day  !  Remember  what  teacher  told  us 
once  of  a  fine  old  artist  who  lived  three 
months  in  a  palace  painting  the  picture  of 
a  king  ?  I  expect  these  young  artists  will 
not  paint  so  fast.  They  may  need  me  six 
months,  and  I  shall  make  eight  or  ten 
times  as  much  money  as  Mamma." 

Ten  dollars  ?  Poor  Paul  had  computed 
according  to  the  number  of  hours  in  the 
workingman's  day. 

While  he  sat,  his  brown  eyes  seemed 
feasting  on  all  the  beautiful  things  around 
him.  This  elegance  seemed  his  natural 
element.  Once  when  they  gave  him  time 
to  rest,  he  whispered  to  me,  "  I  expect  Pa 
pa's  home  is  like  this." 

At  the  end  of  two  hours  his  disappoint 
ment  was  cruel  when  they  dismissed  him 
with  two  dollars  and  made  him  understand 
they  needed  him  no  longer.  "  It  will  not 
buy  even  the  least  little  stove,"  he  cried 
out  bitterly,  and  I  tried  in  vain  to  comfort 
him.  I  cast  about  for  some  new  plan, 
and  after  reflecting  I  asked  :  "  Didn't 
you  tell  me  once  you  could  play  the  violin?" 
but  I  looked  somewhat  incredulously  at 
his  crippled  hand. 

"Yes,"  he  answered,  dejectedly,  "a  lit 
tle  ;  but  grandmother  pawned  my  violin 
(it  had  been  papa's,  too),  to  buy  a  theatre 
ticket.  My  grandmother  is  flighty,  and 
she  has  what  mamma  calls  a  monomania  for 
going  to  the  theatre.  She  has  found  out 
three  different  times  where  mamma  had 
money  hid  to  pay  the  rent  with,  and  has 
stolen  it  away  to  buy  tickets,  and  had  us 
turned  out  of  our  house.  The  next  time 
mamma  hid  it  in  a  mouse-hole,  and  thought 
it  would  be  safe,  but  when  we  went  to  get 
it  out,  the  mice  had  eaten  it  up.  And 
grandmother  has  pawned  most  of  her 
stage-clothes  for  theatre  tickets — except 
what  will  do  for  me,"  he  said,  looking  rue 
fully  down  at  his  fantastic  attire. 

"If  you  could  buy  another  violin  with  this 
two  dollars,  and  play  under  windows,  you 
could  make  any  amount  of  money  ;  for 
people  would  be  sorry  for  you  on  account 


494 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


of  your  hand,  and  it's  respectable  to  be  a 
musician,  for  my  mother  says  my  music- 
teacher  is  a  perfect  lady." 

Paul's  eyes  flashed;  he  turned  upon 
me,  angrily, 

"  Respectable  to  be  a  musician !  I 
should  think  it  is  respectable !  It  is  grand. 
It  is  what  I  will  be  when  I  am  a  jj^an. 
You  might  be  proud  if  you  could  be  one," 
he  said,  with  fine  scorn.  "  O,  if  I  were 
only  a  man,  so  I  need  do  nothing  else  but 
study  to  be  a  great  musician  !  " 

I  understand,  now,  that  it  was  the 
yearnings  of  genius  that  fired  the  boy. 
He  seemed  to  think  that  I  disparaged 
music  by  asserting  that  it  was  a  respecta 
ble  profession,  as  if  any  one  had  ever 
doubted  it.  And  he  maintained  an  angry 
silence  as  we  walked  down  to  the  music 
store. 

But  when  we  reached  the  music-dealer's 
we  found  that  violins  were  far  beyond  our 
means. 

"Never  mind,  Paul,"  I  said,  "  I  will  go 
home  with  you  and  help  you  find  a  safe 
place  to  hide  this  from  your  grandmother, 
till  you  can  somehow  get  enough  to  put 
to  it  to  buy  a  violin."  To  tell  the  truth,  I 
was  drawn  to  make  this  offer  partially 
through  curiosity  to  see  the  raving  old 
woman,  who  could  have  the  heart  to  steal 
from  her  own  poor  kin.  I  found  Paul's 
home  more  miserable  than  any  place  I 
had  ever  imagined.  No  stove,  no  carpet, 
no  curtains,  no  sunlight, — a  mere  sleeping 
place.  No  wonder  they  found  it  difficult, 
in  this  dearth,  to  conceal  money  from 
the  old  grandmother.  We  found  her  lying 
in  bed  for  warmth,  conning  an  old  yellow 
play-book.  She  was  a  peculiar,  theatrical 
looking  woman  with  glittering  black  eyes, 
hair  prematurely  white,  with  the  eagle  fea 
tures  characteristic  of  the  dramatic  pro 
fession  ;  and  she  wore  a  bright  spot  of 
rouge  on  each  withered  cheek,  as  mis 
placed  there  as  gaudy  tulips  planted  on  a 
grave.  I  whispered  and  asked  Paul  if  it 
had  been  put  there  when  she  was  on  the 
stage,  and  would  not  wash  off,  but  he  ex 
claimed  with  his  winning  simplicity, 
"Grandma  only  puts  on  the  paint  when  she 
is  going  out  to  ask  credit  at  the  bakery,  for 
she  says  people  can't  get  trust  if  they  look 
pale  with  hunger.  I  was  too  young  then 
to  be  touched  by  her  solicitude." 

The  morning  after  my  visit,  Paul  missed 


his  lesson  again,  and  suffered  such  a  cruel 
whipping  that  the  thin  blood  oozed  from 
his  crippled  hand.  I  could  stand  it  no 
longer,  but  springing  up  cried  indignantly 
to  the  tyrant :  "  If  you  were  Paul,  and  too 
poor  to  have  a  light  or  fire,  you  wouldn't 
know  your  lessons,  either!"  But  I  here  un 
wittingly  hurt  him  worse  than  the  teacher 
had,  his  tears  gushed  forth  now,  for  I  had 
cut  his  pride.  He  could  not  rally  from 
his  mortification,  but  rested  his  proud 
little  head  on  his  arms  and  sobbed  all  the 
rest  of  the  afternoon.  When  school  was 
out  we  all  walked  home  with  him  for  sym 
pathy.  As  we  neared  his  tenement  he 
broke  from  us  with  a  bitter  cry,  and  ran 
toward  a  group  upon  the  pavement. 
Paul's  mother  and  grandmother  stood 
weeping  by  their  things,  which  the  land 
lord's  agent  was  throwing  out.  It  was  sad 
that  his  patience  had  held  out  till  mid 
winter,  for  they  were  now  houseless  in  the 
bitter  cold.  The  agent  seemed  a  brutish- 
hearted  man  who  jeered  at  them  to  his  as 
sistant.  When  that  functionary  seemed 
about  to  falter  in  the  work  of  ejecting,  the 
agent  sneered,  "  Oh  come  !  Don't  waste 
sympathy, — professional  beggars,  I  guess. 
Might  as  well  try  to  get  nineteen  at  crib- 
bage,  or  fatten  a  greyhound,  as  get  money 
from  such." 

This  insult  stung  Paul,  who  had  been 
weeping  beside  his  mother.  The  fire 
flashed  into  his  eyes,  drying  his  brush 
lashes.  Doubling  his  delicate,  impotent 
fists,  he  shook  them  under  the  agent's 
eyes  crying,  "We  are  not  such!  You 
shall  not  insult  my  mother  ! " 

The  creature  laughed  and  walked  off 
murmuring,  "When  the  dew-drops  kiss 
the  roses,"  casting  an  insinuating  glance  at 
Paul's  grandmother's  withered  cheeks,  from 
which  the  tears  were  washing  off  the  rouge. 

We  more  fortunate  boys  crept  away, 
awed  by  the  sight  of  so  much  misery. 

After  that  day  of  mortifications  Paul 
never  returned  to  our  school.  We  re 
gretted  him  greatly,  and  hunted  him  dili 
gently,  but  I  did  not  see  him  again  for 
months.  When  I,  at  last,  caught  sight  of 
him  it  was  bitter  winter  again,  and  he  was 
coming  out  of  a  Relief  Soup  House  with  a 
little  bucket  of  charity  soup  dangling  like 
a  signal  of  distress  from  his  arm.  He 
wore  the  same  old  velvet  talma,  eaten  to 
shreds  by  the  starving  tenement-house 


THE    GOLDEN    ERA. 


495 


mice.  The  icy  pavement  bit  pieces  of 
skin  from  his  delicate  feet,  and  through 
his  soleless  shoes  an  ooze  of  blood  traced 
his  footprints  on  the  snow.  The  feather 
was  gone  from  his  Reuben's  hat,  replaced 
by  rusty  crepe.  I  ran  after  him,  and  we 
made  a  joyful  meeting  of  it.  I  enquired 
with  a  child's  want  of  tact  why  the  crepe 
was  on  his  hat,  and  he  told  me  that  his 
mother  had  taken  cold  on  the  day  I  had 
seen  them  ejected,  and  had  died  of  con 
sumption.  He  had  apparently  recovered 
from  the  first  poignancy  of  his  grief,  for 
he  spoke  of  her  calmly.  It  is  well  that  it 
is  only  while  gravemounds  are  new  and 
high  that  they  cast  a  shadow  over  chil 
dren's  lives,  and  that  they  sink  under  the 
leveling  hand  of  time,  letting  the  sunlight 
again  into  the  darkened  places ;  for  Paul  had 
enough  to  distress  him  in  trying  to  take 
care  of  his  helpless  grandmother.  He 
told  me,  reluctantly,  that  he  was  now 
obliged  to  do  for  support  those  things  his 
mother  had  said  were  not  for  a  gentleman's 
son  to  do,  and  I  caught  a  glimpse  of  a 
boot-black's  box  from  under  his  talma,  and 
the  knees  of  his  short  pants  hung  in  tat 
ters. 

Paul  seemed  so  sad  that  I  determined 
to  go  that  evening  to  see  him.  When  I 
found  his  place  I  was  arrested  on  his  land 
ing  by  a  sweet  concord  of  harps  and  vio 
lins.  But  suddenly  came  a  blur,  a  gruff 
voice  shouted  "stop,"  and  then — "You, 
Carlo,  stand  out,  I'll  make  you  keep  time 
to  another  kind  of  stringed  instrument," 
and  a  heavy  lash  cut  the  air  with  a  hiss. 
Then  this  ruffianly  trainer  of  street  musi 
cians  thrust  a  punished  boy  out  into  the 
hall,  and  I  saw  Paul  presently  steal  out  of 
his  own  room  to  give  him  sympathy.  I 
heard  the  boy  sob  out : 

u  Oh,  this  is  not  the  worst  !  I  shall 
have  to  go  around  with  Adam  and  the 
grinding-organ  till  I  learn  time." 

"  Who  is  Adam  ?     Is  he  cross,  too  ?  " 

"  No ;  Adam  is  a  new  monkey,  and  all 
the  other  chaps  look  on  carrying  him 
around  as  a  greater  disgrace  than  to  cry 
for  a  whipping." 

I  crept  away  and  left  them  alone,  sor 
rower  and  comforter. 

Circumstances  now  prevented  my  seeing 
anything  of  Paul's  family  until  one  fatal 
day,  two  years  later,  when  my  father  took 
me  to  the  matinee ;  and  while  we  were 


detained  at  the  box  office,  a  quaint  figure 
in  the  vestibule  hiring  an  opera-glass,  at 
tracted  our  attention  by  saying  grandly  : 

"  Ah  !  we  must  see  this  through  a  teles 
cope." 

I  turned,  and  recognized  in  her 
Paul's  grandmother,  spending,  I  sup 
pose,  her  pilferings  from  his  hard  earnings 
to  gratify  her  passion.  She  passed  in  be 
fore  us  to  die — where  the  better  part  of 
her  life  had  been  spent — near  the  foot 
lights,  for  that  day  occurred  that  well-re 
membered,  tragic  panic  caused  by  the  par 
rot,  necessary  to  the  play,  unexpectedly 
crying  "fire,"  in  the  first  scene.  The 
weird  voice  and  the  word  combined, 
created  a  terrible  panic.  It  was  my  fate  to 
see,  amid  the  agony,  Paul's  grandmother, 
dead;  her  painted  cheeks,  horrible  in  death, 
had  they  not  told  me  blushingly  that  she 
had  intended  to  atone  to  Paul  for  her  ex 
travagance  by  begging  credit  for  bread  for 
him  on  her  way  home. 

I  searched  out  Paul  as  soon  as  I  recov 
ered  from  the  hurt  I  received  in  the  panic. 
When  I  asked  if  he  was  now  alone  in  the 
world,  he  answered  falteringly  : 

"  No,  I  have  hired  myself  to  the  trainer 
of  street-musicians.  He  was  glad  to  get 
me,  because  he  thinks  my  deformed  hand 
earns  me  money  through  sympathy.  He 
used  to  cripple  his  boys,  but  the  law  is 
down  on  that  now,  so  he  was  glad  to  get 
me.  I  hate  it,  but  it  is  ail  I  can  do. 
And,  it  is  the  only  way  I  can  learn  music." 

"  You  play  the  violin  ?  "  I  asked. 

He  blushed.  "No,  I  carry  round  Adam 
and  the  organ  now.  But  I  shall  know  the 
violin  well  enough,  soon.  Oh,  I  shall  rise 
by  degrees  ;  I  am  determined." 

Brave  little  heart !  despite  the  knowl 
edge  that  the  other  boys  would  deride, 
and  the  certainty  of  the  descending  lash, 
he  had  taken  up  this  burden  which  seemed 
a  degradation  of  his  musical  talent.  He 
was  determined  to  learn,  and  to  climb^ 
though  his  ladder  was  runged  with  thorns, 

I  learned  that  he  still  retained  a  child 
ish  faith  in  his  father,  for  he  said  :  -H 

"  I  never  tell  the  trainer's  other  boys  I 
have  prospects,  for  they  haven't,  and  the 
contrast  might  make  them  sad." 

It  was  well  for  Paul  that  he  wove  out  of 
silence  this  mantle  of  charity  to  protect 
the  other  boys  from  the  stings  of  envy,  for 
it  fell  soon  upon  his  own  shoulders.  How 


496 


THE    GOLDEN    ERA. 


they  would  have  jeered  at  him  for  an  emp 
ty  boaster  !  for  the  next  time  I  met  him  he 
was  accompanied  by  a  vile-looking,  bold- 
eyed,  bloated  man, — his  father.  He  looked 
quite  the  man  who  could  desert  wife,  with 
a  child  in  its  infancy,  and  return  to  claim 
support  from  that  child  in  the  early  de 
cline  which  follows  an  evil  life — a  creature 
so  unlike  Paul's  dreams  of  him,  that  I 
hastened  to  relieve  the  poor  boy's  mortifi 
cation  by  leaving  them  alone  together. 

I  never  met  either  of  them  again,  but  a 
year  ago  I  received  a  letter  from  Paul, — a 
detail  of  his  subsequent  trials  and  achieve 
ments — and  both  were  great  !  It  told  how 
he  toiled  his  way  up  to  violinist  of  a  trav 


eling  quintette  club;  how  the  Duke  of 
Tessi,  happening  to  hear  him  play, 
engaged  him  to  live  in  his  palace  and  teach 
his  sons  music ;  and  I  have  heard  that  the 
duke  has  had  a  medal  struck  for  him, 
with  an  inscription  on  each  face.  One 
reads,  "  Affliction,  like  the  ironsmith, 
shapes  what  it  smites."  The  other  holds 
the  legend,  "The  spider  takes  hold  with 
her  hands  and  weaves  into  king's  palaces." 
So,  not  through  his  father,  but  unaided, 
through  the  germ  of  power  that  was  in 
him,  he  attained  the  life  of  studious  ele 
gance  for  which  his  refined  nature  had 
yearned.  KENELM  D.  FORGERON. 


THE    CACHED    COIN. 


He  belonged  to  the  genus  called  tramp, 
and  was  a  fair  specimen  of  his  class. 
When  he  had  not  been  in  these  United 
States  it  was  not  worth  while  for  any  other 
man  to  attempt  to  go,  and  the  men  of 
prominence  with  whom  he  was  personally 
acquainted  were  legion.  To  study  his 
make-up  from  a  philosophical  or  physical 
standpoint  was  an  interesting  occupation. 
His  hat  was  a  nondescript  in  color  and 
style,  being  simply  a  limp  affair  with  a 
wonderfully  abreviated  brim.  His  hair 
was  an  iron  gray,  but  showed  that  it  had 
been  as  black  as  a  raven's  wing  in  the 
olden  days  before  age  and  rough  living 
had  left  their  traces  upon  him.  His  eyes 
were  small,  and  peered  out  from  their 
deep  sockets  with  a  sort  of  squinting,  quiz- 
ical  gaze,  that  impressed  one  with  the  idea 
that  he  was  trying  to  look  through  a  gimlet 
hole.  His  face  was  as  red  as  the  comb  of 
a  cock,  while  his  nose,  which  was  some 
what  on  the  pug  order,  was  almost  like  a 
glowing  coal  of  fire,  giving  indication  of 
the  numberless  cocktails  and  gin-slings, 
not  to  say  anything  of  the  whisky  straights 
that  had  passed  under  it  on  their  way  into 
the  seemingly  cast-iron  labyrinths  of  his 
internal  organism.  His  shoulders  stooped 
a  little  from  the  weight  of  accumulating 
years.  His  gait  was  far  from  being  regal, 
but  it  was  well  befitting  a  man  of  his  po 
sition  in  the  social  scale.  A  brown,  heavy 
ducking  hunting  coat,  with  pantaloons  to 


match,  a  blue  woolen  navy  shirt,  cowskin 
boots  numbering  up  among  the  tens,  into 
the  tops  of  which  his  trouser  legs  were  half 
stuffed  with  a  reckless  neglige,  completed 
the  outer  covering  of  the  man.  He  said 
he  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  and  claimed 
to  be  a  son  of  Vulcan. 

So  here  you  have  a  faithful  pen  picture 
of  the  man  who  played  such  an  important 
part  in  the  drama  which  I  am  about  to  re 
cord.  One  day  just  after  lunch  I  was 
sitting  in  the  business  office  of  a  friend, 
when  Charley,  the  tramp,  as  we  had  all 
come  to  call  him,  dropped  in  and  joined 
us  in  our  conversation.  At  last  he  spoke 
up  in  rather  an  abrupt  manner,  just  as  if 
he  had  suddenly  returned  from  an  excur 
sion  to  dreamland,  and  said  : 

"  Say,  do  yer  fellers  know  I've  got  a 
gift?" 

"  A  gift!  No;  who's  been  giving  you 
anything,  and  what  is  it  ?  The  gift  of  gab 
is  about  the  only  thing  you  seem  to  be  pos 
sessed  of,"  said  my  friend  Siebe. 

"O  you  don't  sabe ;  I  mean  spiritualism 
gifts;  transitory  gifts  like,  you  know." 

"Transitory  gifts  !  pray  what  are  they?" 

"  Why  didn't  yer  ever  hear  tell  of  them 
ar'  fellers  what  goes  into  a  transitory  state, 
a  kinder  sleep,  so  to  speak,  and  then  tell 
all  manner  of  queer  things  ?  " 

"  Oh,  you  mean  a  trance.  Why,  of 
course  we  know  all  about  that.  Do  you 
mean  to  say  that  you  can  go  into  a  trance?" 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


497 


"Wall,  neow,"  said  he,  giving  the  two 
words  the  broad  Yankee  twang,  "  I  should 
ruther  presume  I  can,  that  is,  when  I've 
got  any  one  what  knows  how  to  mesmerize 
me.  Why,  I  traveled  for  four  years  with 
Prof.  J.  R.  Lovejoy  of  Maine,  and  I  used 
to  tell  fortunes,  read  sealed  letters,  tell 
ages,  find  lost  things,  heal  the  sick,  detect 
criminals  and  everything  else  miraculous 
and  funny.  Why,  I  will  just  give  you  one 
instance.  A  young  fellar  away  down  in 
Maine  killed  his  uncle  and  aunt  for  their 
money,  and  skipped  the  country.  Nobody 
could  find  him.  The  detectives  couldn't 
somehow  catch  onto  anything  that  'd  pan 
out  worth  a  cent.  The  Professor  came  to 
the  town  to  hold  one  of  his  'sayonses,'  as 
he  was  always  careful  to  call  'em,  and  as  a 
little  business  dodge  just  put  it  in  the  pa 
per  that  I  would  tell  the  whole  history  of 
that  boy's  movements  after  he  killed  the 
old  folks,  and  also  his  present  whereabouts. 
The  house  was  full  of  course,  for  people 
do  so  like  to  be  humbuggedl  but  I  fooled 
'em  that  night,  for  sure's  you're  born,  I  did 
tell  'em  to  a  dot  all  about  it,  and  a  detec 
tive  went  and  found  him  on  a  cattle  ranch 
in  Texas  just  as  I  had  said." 

"Well,  Charlie,"  said  Siebe,  "  do  you 
ever  do  anything  in  that  line  nowadays  ?  " 

"  Oh  yes,  sometimes." 

"Well,"  said  Siebe,  "  I  understand  this 
thing  of  mesmerism  and  have  seen  a  great 
deal  of  it  in  days  gone  by.  My  friend 
here  is  a  stenographer,  and  we  three  will 
meet  at  eight  o'clock  to-night  in  my  back 
office,  and  I  will  put  you  into  a  trance  con 
dition,  and  my  friend  will  write  down  all 
you  say,  and  we  will  see  what  kind  of  a 
circus  we  will  have." 

According  to  appointment,  we  met  in 
the  back  parlor  of  Mr.  Siebe's  business 
office.  The  gas  was  turned  down  till  a 
mellow  tone  of  light  was  produced,  giving 
everything  in  the  room  a  wierd,  far-away 
look.  Charley  took  his  seat  in  the  great 
easy  chair,  leaned  his  head  back  against 
the  soft  upholstery,  and,  closing  his  eyes, 
seemed  about  to  fall  asleep.  The  few 
magical  passes  were  made,  and  the  soul  of 
the  man  was  off  on  spirit  wings  to  other 
realms.  Presently  the  muscles  of  his  face 
began  to  twitch,  his  hands  moved  nervously, 
and  his  whole  body  seemed  to  be  pervaded 
by  a  something  that  was  foreign  to  himself. 
Suddenly  he  sprang  up,  and  with  a  deft 


kilt  of  his  hat,  and  the  unbottoning  and 
shifting  up  of  his  shirt,  he  looked  the  very 
image  of  a  sailor.  With  a  swinging  tread, 
unsteady,  as  if  on  a  vessel  riding  over 
waves,  now  easy,  now  bracing,  but  ever 
keeping  with  the  sway  of  the  ship,  he 
walked  across  the  room. 

"  Yi  ho-o,  yi  ho-o,  me  hearties,"  he  sung 
out  with  a  clear  and  musical  voice  that 
was  very  foreign  to  Charley's  own,  as  we 
had  heard  it. 

"  Hello,"  said  Seibe,  "  can't  you  tell  us 
who  you  are  ?  " 

"  O  I'm  the  captain  of  a  gallant  ship, 

To  you  I'll  tell  her  name, 
O,  I'm  the  captain  of  a  gallant  ship 

It  is  the  Oriflamme," 

he  sang  in  reply,  in  the  minor  cadences 
one  often  hears  emenating  from  the 
fo'castle. 

"You're  of  a  nautical  turn,"  said  Siebe. 

"Oh,  I  never  sing,"  he  replied,  "ex 
cept  when  I  am  happy.  I  am  overjoyed 
tonight,  for  I've  got  what  I  have  been 
longing  for  these  twenty  years,  as  you  of 
earth  reckon  time." 

"  What's  that  ?  "  said  Seibe. 

"  Don't  you  see  that  I'm  at  the  helm  of 
this  blasted  old  craft  you  call  Charley. 
Just  see  how  I  can  steer  it  about.  Port, 
starboard,  steady.  Port,hard  up,  (makes  a 
short  turn).  See  how  I  made  her  come  round 
without  a  misstay.  But  this  isn't  all,  for  I 
am  going  to  tell  you  a  sailor's  yarn  that  will 
make  your  eyes  hang  out  like  saucers ;  and 
the  best  part  of  it  is,  that  it  will  be  true. 
This  is  something  which  has  weighed  upon 
my  mind  ever  since  I  crossed  over  to 
shadow  land,  and  when  I  have  told  you 
what  I  have  to  say,  my  soul  will  be  at  rest, 
and  I  can  then  pass  on  to  higher  planes  of 
existence.  As  it  is,  I  am  held  firmly 
bound  to  the  lowest  levels,  and  that  is  why 
I  am  so  rejoiced  to  be  able  to  use  the  or 
ganism  of  the  medium  to-night.  I  do  not 
know  you  from  Adam,  a  personage,  by  the 
way,  I  have  not  yet  had  the  felicity  of  see 
ing,  but  I  would  just  as  soon  narrate  my 
story  to  you  as  to  any  of  Adam's  sons,  for 
they  are  all  one  to  me  now.  Now,  you 
fellow  with  the  writing  fixings,  get  all  ready, 
for  I'm  going  to  talk  it  off  very  fast,  for 
that  fool  Charley  will  be  back  here  pretty 
soon  and  want  to  take  his  turn  at  the  wheel 
of  this  old  craft,  and  I'll  have  to  go  below 
and  turn  in." 


498 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


"  All  ready,  Captain, "said  I,  after  I  had 
adjusted  my  note-book  and  taken  a  freshly 
pointed  pencil.  And  this  is  what  he  told 
me: 

"  First  of  all,  my  name  is  James  Albert 
White,  and  I  shipped  from  New  Bedford 
in  1844,  on  a  hide  and  tallow  drogher  as 
skipper,  bound  for  a  cruise  of  three  yeais 
to  California.  She  was  called  the  Ori- 
flamme.  It  was  a  merry  day  when  we  set 
sail  and  stood  out  of  the  harbor.  Flags 
were  flying  and  guns  were  fired,  and  the 
populace  lined  the  wharves  and  decks, 
waving  adieux  with  their  handkerchiefs. 
But  in  all  that  vast  throng  there  was  no 
face  that  had  any  charms  for  me,  for,  lean 
ing  from  a  balcony  far  up  the  street,  was  a 
face,  to  look  upon  which  would  have  made 
the  heart  of  any  mortal  leap  with  joy.  In 
stead  of  a  kerchief  wave,  her  lithesome 
fingers  sent  kisses  floating  out  towards  the 
fast  receding  ship. 

"Then  came  the  long  and  tedious  passage 
around  the  Horn,  and  on  to  California. 
We  sailed  in  May  and  it  was  late  in  No 
vember  before  we  dropped  anchor  off  San 
Diego,  our  first  station.  Then  came  the 
long  year  and  a  half  of  bartering  for  and 
stowing  away  our  cargo  of  hides,  tallow  and 
horns.  Just  two  years  to  a  day  from  the 
time  I  left  New  Bedford,  I  hove  anchor  in 
San  Francisco  Bay  and  set  the  prow  of 
the  Oriflamme  homeward.  With  a  sigh  of 
relief  I  saw  the  white  cliffs  recede  as  my 
vessel  held  her  course  westward,  far  out 
beyond  the  Farallones.  I  should  have 
laid  her  course  for  the  Cape  at  once,  but 
there  was  an  ill-guiding  star  in  the  plan 
ning  of  my  chart.  I  had  told  the  bonnie, 
sweet-faced  lassie  who  tipped  the  kisses  at 
me  that  bright  May  day  as  I  sailed  out  of 
the  harbor  at  New  Bedford,  to  write  a  let 
ter  and  send  it  to  the  Sandwich  Islands  by 
some  whalers  who  were  to  sail  the  next 
spring,  and  I  had  hoped  that  some  chance 
vessel,  bound  for  California,  would  pick  it 
up  at  the  islands  and  bear  it  on  to  me. 
But  my  hopes  had  all  been  in  vain ;  I 
reasoned  that  she  had  sent  the  letter,  and 
that  it  was  still  at  the  islands  awaiting  some 
opportunity  of  being  sent  to  me. 

"Then  I  said  :  Here,  it  will  not  take  me 
but  a  month  or  two  longer  to  run  over  to 
the  islands  and  get  the  letter,  and  then  I 
will  still  have  ample  time  to  pass  Terra  del 
Fuego  before  the  winter  solstice.  So  I 


shaped  my  course,  and  in  due  time  sighted 
the  volcano  of  Owhyhee  ;  once  at  anchor, 
I  hastened  ashore  to  inquire  for  my  letter. 
Theie  were  two  instead  of  one,  and  they 
were  tied  together  with  a  piece  of  black 
crape.  How  my  heart  leaped  into  my 
throat  when  I  saw  that !  My  mother  or 
sister  must  be  dead,  I  said  to  myself,  and 
Nellie  has  written  me  of  it.  Impatiently 
cutting  the  band  which  bound  them  to 
gether,  and  breaking  the  great  wafer  seals, 
so  common  then,  I  saw  that  one  was  in 
the  smoothly-flowing,  shapely  handwriting 
of  a  few  other  small  billet  doux  which  I  had 
in  my  chest  on  board  ship,  and  which  I  had 
read  and  re-read,  till  there  was  precious 
little  of  them  left  to  read.  The  other  was 
the  strong,  bold  hand-writing  of  a  man. 
Of  course,  I  began  to  read  Nellie's  first 
There  were  tear  stains  all  down  the  page. 
And  this  is  what  was  written  : 

"'DEAR,  DEAR  JAMES:  I  promised  to 
write  you  a  letter  when  the  whalers  sailed, 
but  it  is  still  long  before  that  time,  and  yet 
if  I  ever  write  you  another  letter  in  this 
world  I  must  do  it  to  day.  O,  my  dearly 
beloved,  how  can  I  tell  you  !  I  am  dying, 
James.  I  cannot  see  to-morrow's  sun,  so 
they  say.  Oh,  to  see  you  once  more  !  To 
have  you  with  me  to-day  so  that  I  could 
lay  my  poor,  aching  head  upon  your  breast 
and  have  you  stroke  my  hair,  as  in  the 
days  of  our  happiness,  would  be  worth  half 
a  lifetime.  To  have  your  strong  arms 
around  me  when  I  go  down  into  the  cold 
waters,  would  sustain  me  till  I  do  not 
think  I  should  fear  to  die.  Oh,  my  dar 
ling  !  how  I  have  loved  you — how  I  love 
you  now  !  The  bright  dreams  of  our  youth 
have  flitted  by  all  unrealized,  and  love's 
sweet  hopes  are  blasted  in  an  hour.  But 
my  strength  fails  me — my  hours  are  num 
bered.  In  the  great  love  of  the  All-Father 
I  trust,  and  I  pray  you  do  the  same,  that 
we,  whose  hearts  are  thus  so  early  torn 
asunder,  may  be  reunited  where  God's  good 
angels  dwell.  These  tear  stains  will  tell 
you  more  than  my  pen  can.  Good-by, 
my  darling,  God  bless  you  !  I  am  so  weak, 
I  am ' 

"Here  the  letter  ended.  Dazed  and  wild 
with  grief,  I  returned  to  the  ship,  and  go 
ing  into  the  cabin,  I  locked  myself  up  and 
gave  vent  to  my  pent  up  passions.  Curses,, 
such  as  mortal  ear  has  never  heard,  and 
none  can  utter  save  fiends  incarnate,  I 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


499 


gave  vocalization.  In  it  all  I  saw  only 
the  black  hand  of  Despair,  dashing  from 
my  lips  the  sweet  cup  of  love's  fruition. 
God,  I  cursed  as  the  author  of  my  exist 
ence.  Man,  I  cursed,  that  my  idol  had 
not  been  preserved  to  me  by  human  agen 
cy.  Devil,  I  cursed  as  the  entailer  of  all 
my  woe,  and  myself  I  cursed  with  impre 
cations  inconceivable  and  unutterable.  The 
first  paroxysm  of  grief  passed,  I  became 
calmer;  and  read  the  other  letter,  which 
was  from  a  friend,  and  contained  a  detailed 
account  of  Nellie's  death,  burial,  etc. 

"The  next  day  I  went  ashore  again,  and 
still  being  overburdened  with  the  agony  of 
my  great  grief,  I  sought  to  cheer  myself  up 
a  little  by  drinking.  Then,  after  a  few 
glasses  had  fired  my  brain,  I  determined 
to  drink,  till  in  my  potations,  I  found  the 
Lethean  solace  so  vainly  sought  for  from 
that  source.  Glass  followed  glass  in  rapid 
succession  and  I  became  at  last  uncon 
scious  *  *  *  When  I  awoke 
*rom  my  stupor,  had  I  but  just  come  from 
the  regions  of  the  damned,  I  could  not 
have  felt  more  poignantly  the  torments  of 
hell.  Finally  I  succeeded,  in  a  measure, 
in  slaking  my  insatiable  thirst  and  partial 
ly  collected  my  scattered  senses.  I  started 
to  go  to  my  vessel,  but  when  I  reached 
the  strand,  lo,  it  was 'gone  !  "What  can 
that  mean  ?"  said  I.  Just  then  one  of  my 
sailors  approached  me  and  said  :  '  Skip 
per,  that  was  the  devil's  own  caper  you  cut 
yesterday.' 

"  'And  what  was  that,  pray  ?'  said  I. 

"  'Why,  your  getting  drunk  and  selling 
the  Oriflamme  to  those  Englishmen 
for  ;£8,ooo  and  that  old  tub  of  a  schooner 
they  had.' 

"'The  what?'  screamed  I. 

"He  then  sat  down  on  a  flat  rock  by  the 
seashore  and  told  me  all  about  it.  Shortly 
after  I  had  begun  drinking,  some  English 
men,  who  were  in  port  with  a  small  schoon 
er,  came  up  and  finding  me  the  worse  for 
liquor,  planned  my  ruin.  For  the  consid 
eration  of  the  paltry  sum  of  ^8,000  and 
the  old  schooner,  I  had  sold  my  vessel  and 
cargo,  which  of  coursa  was  valued  at  sever 
al  times  that  amount,  to  those  men  and 
they  had  taken  a  portion  of  my  corn  and 
sailed  out  of  port  while  I  was  yet  intoxi 
cated.  The  money  was  in  the  schooner, 
and  two  of  my  most  trusty  sailors  were 
with  it. 


"  Here  was  a  quandary  truly.  But  what 
was  to  be  done  ?  To  try  to  return  to  New 
Bedford  in  that  old  craft  were  certain 
death,  and  to  remain  there  till  I  could  get 
home  on  some  whaler  was  only  to  go  to  a  fate 
worse  than  death — state's  prison  for  life.  So, 
the  days  and  weeks  went  by.  At  last,  I  de 
cided  to  return  to  California.  Repairing 
the  schooner  as  best  I  could,  I  set  sail  for 
San  Francisco,  which  port  I  reached  with 
out  further  accident  or  incident.  Then 
the  question  arose,  what  am  I  to  do  with 
myself,  and  with  my  money?  I  dare  not 
show  myself  at  any  of  the  ranches,  or  at 
the  Pueblo  or  Presidio  of  San  Francisco, 
for  I  was  liable  to  meet  with  those  who 
would  recognize  me,  and,  doubtless,  they 
would  ask  me  questions,  which  it  would 
be  hard  for  me  to  answer,  if  I  remained 
within  the  bounds  of  the  realm  of  truth. 
All  was  gone  which  I  had  any  ambition  to 
live  for,  so  I  drifted  about  in  a  listless  sort 
of  way  from  place  to  place,  moving  gener 
ally  in  the  night,  and  remaining  in  the  un 
frequented  sloughs  and  estuaries  of  the 
bays.  At  last,  I  chanced  to  enter  the  Rio 
de  Napa,  as  the  Spaniards  called  the 
stream,  and  after  sailing  along  its  sinuosi 
ties  for  several  miles,  I  came  to  a  very 
large  sycamore  tree  standing  on  the  bank 
of  a  slough  just  at  its  junction  with  the 
main  stream.  I  proceeded  up  this  slough 
a  short  distance  and  dropped  anchor. 
My  two  faithful  sailors  were  still  with  me, 
but  I  had  come  to  fear  that  they  might 
plot  together  to  dispose  of  me,  so  that 
they  might  be  able  to  obtain  possession  of 
the  gold. 

"  While  lying  at  anchor  there,  I  deter 
mined  upon  the  culminating  deeds  of  my 
career  of  crime.  My  plan  was  to  kill  the 
two  seamen,  as  they  were  the  only  ones 
who  knew  of  the  money  being  in  my  pos 
session.  I  would  then  take  the  coin 
ashore  and  bury  it.  This  done,  I  would 
go  away  into  the  interior  and  live  among 
the  Indians  for  ten  years.  At  the  end  of 
that  time  I  concluded  that  all  remem 
brance  of  me  among  men  or  nations 
would  be  obliterated,  and  I  could  then 
return  to  my  cache  of  English  sovereigns, 
and  use  them  with  perfect  immunity  from 
detection.  I  carried  my  plan  out  to  the  letter 
as  far  as  disposing  of  my  two  comrades 
and  the  burying  of  the  gold  was  concerned. 
I  then  cast  the  old  schooner  adrift,  and  af- 


5oo 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


ter  taking  exact  measurements  from  what 
I  considered  were  substantial  land  marks 
I  set  out  for  the  mountains. 

"  For  two  days  I  traveled  northward 
through  a  charming  valley,  along  the  banks 
of  the  Rio  de  Napa,  and  then  a  mighty 
mountain  closed  my  pathway.  I  crosed 
over  it  by  a  trail,  and  passed  on  northward 
through  a  broad  and  well  wooded  valley, 
when  I  came  to  another  great  mountain. 
This  crossed,  I  came  upon  a  stream  of 
water  winding  through  the  mountain  glades, 
like  a  ribbon  of  silver  painted  by  an  ar 
tist's  hand  upon  a  background  of  russet 
and  emerald.  On  and  on  I  followed  this 
stream  until  it  developed  from  a  sprawling 
brook  into  almost  majestic  proportions. 
At  last  I  came  to  an  adobe  house  which 
was  deserted.  Here  I  concluded  to  spend 
the  winter.  Farther  on  to  the  northward 
the  stream  debouched  into  a  most  beauti 
ful  lake,  which  lay  nestled  in  the  bosom  of 
the  mountains,  very  much  like  Gennesaret 
of  old,  on  whose  sacred  banks  he  was  want 
to  teach,  from  whose  lips  fell  such  words 
as  never  man  spake.  The  country  was 
teeming  with  savages,  but  was  unable  to 
approach  any  of  them.  If  I  entered  a  vil 
lage  they  ran  away  as  if  panic  stricken. 
One  day  I  went  into  a  village,  and  sudden 
ly  I  found  myself  surrounded  by  a  host  of 
of  Indians,  with  drawn  arrows  pointing  di 
rectly  at  me.  I  made  a  dash  for  my  life, 
and  as  I  ran  that  fatal  gauntlet  an  arrow, 
barbed  with  the  black  obsidian  so  common 
in  that  section,  pierced  my  side  and  en 
tered  deep  into  my  body.  I  knew,  of 
course,  that  death  must  result  from  the  ter 
rible  wound.  I  hastened  with  all  dispatch, 
hoping  to  reach  the  old  adobe,  but  the 
king  of  terrors  overtook  me  by  the  wayside, 
and  in  the  chemisal  at  the  foot  of  Konocti 
mountain  my  body  fell  never  to  rise  again. 

"  '  But  a  rainbow  rich  of  glory 

Spanned  the  yawning  chasm  o'er. 
And  across  that  bridge  of  beauty 
Did  I  reach  the  other  shore.' 

"At  the  foot  of  an  oak  tree  one  hundred 
yards  northwest  of  the  site  of  the  old 
adobe,  you  will  find,  interred  in  a  small 
iron  chest,  full  directions  how  to  find  the 
coin  which  I  buried. 

"  My  story  is  ended,  gentlemen,  and  I 
must  bid  you  a  long  adieu." 

"Hold  on  just  one  minute,"  said  Siebe, 
"  I  have  a  great  curiosity  to  know  whether 


or  not  you  have  had  the  great  pleasure  of 
meeting  with  the  young  lady  you  told  us 
of,  Nellie  I  think  you  called  her,  since  you 
have  been  a  resident  of  the  land  inhabited 
by  the  great  majority?  " 

"  I  will  tell  you  all,  in  words  of  one  of 
earth's  sweetest  bards  who  voiced  his  experi 
ences  over  there  through  the  lips  of  a  wo 
man  years  ago,  and  mine  was  like  unto 
his: 

"  '  Mid  the  surging  seas  she  found  me 
With  the  billows  breaking  round  me 
And   my  sadened,  sinking  spirit,   in  her  arms  of 

love  up-bory, 

Like  a  lone  one,  weak  and  weary, 
Wandering  in  the  midnight  dreary, 
"  'In  her  sinless,  saintly  bosom,  brought  me  to  the 

heavenly  shore, 

Like  the  breath  of  blossoms  blending 
Like  the  prayers  of  Saints  ascending; — 
Like    the  rainbow's  seven-hued  glory,  blend  our 
souls  forevermore.'" 

"  Hello,  there's  that  fellow  Charley  com 
ing  back,  I  can  see  him  away  off  yonder." 
"  'Oh,  I'm  the  Captain  of  a  gallant  ship 
As  ever  sailed  the  main, 
O,  I'm  the  Capt •  " 

****** 
Here  tbe  cheery  song  of  the  Captain 
ended  abruptly,  and  the  body  of  Charley, 
the  tramp,  fell  prone  upon  the  floor,  to  all 
appearances  as  bereft  of  life  as  though  a 
cannon  ball  had  taken  off  his  head.  Siebe 
made  a  few  passes,  and  the  spell  was,  in  a 
measure,  broken  ;  but  Charley  looked 
dazed  and  bewildered.  A  drink  of  whis 
ky  of  enormous  proportions  had  the  result 
of  reviving  him  to  quite  an  extent,  though 
his  entire  nervous  system  had  suffered 
from  the  excessive  strain  upon  it.  He 
asked  what  had  been  said  while  he  was  in 
the  transitory  state,  as  he  persited  in  call 
ing  it.  The  notes  were  read  to  him,  and 
his  look  of  surprise  was  fully  as  great  as 
ours  had  been  when  we  heard  it  from  the 
Captain  through  Charley's  organism.  Our 
proposition  to  Charley  was  as  follows  :  If 
he  could  go  to  the  site  of  the  old  adobe 
house,  spoken  of  by  the  Captain,  and  find 
the  iron  chest  containing  directions  for  lo 
cating  the  exact  spot  where  the  treasure 
was  buried,  then  we  would  believe  in  the 
truthfulness  of  his  control,  and  enter  heart 
ily  into  the  search  for  the  coin,  and  when 
it  was  found  we  would  all  share  equally 
in  it. 

It  was  long  after  1 2  o'clock  when  we 
separated  for  the  night  and  business  kept 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA.  501 

us  apart  for  several  days.  At  last,  one  We  opened  the  rust-eaten  old  chest 
night  about  a  week  later,  Siebe  and  I  were  with  care,  and  there  we  found  the  letters 
sitting  in  his  back  office  chatting  quietly,  of  which  the  Captain  had  told  us ;  also  * 
when  suddenly  there  came  a  furious  rap  at  shining  tress  of  golden  hair  and  some  oth- 
the  door.  When  it  was  opened^  to  our  er  keepsakes.  But  the  best  of  all,  so  far 
surprise,  there  stood  Charley,  with  a  pack-  as  we  were  concerned,  was  a  plat  of  the 
age  in  his  hand  about  a  foot  square,  which  ground  for  some  distance  around  the  tree, 
was  carefully  wrapped  in  an  old  burlap  at  the  foot  of  which  the  treasure  was  bur- 
bag  and  securely  tied  about  with  Califor-  ied.  Everything  was  so  plainly  indicated 
nia's  salvation — baling  rope.  His  small  that  we  had  no  trouble  whatever  in  fully 
black  eyes  were  dancing  with  delight  as  verifying  the  statements  made  by  the 
he  placed  his  parcel  on  the  table  before  us-  Captain.  LYMAN  L.  PALMER. 
"  Eureka!  Unibus  plurum  !"  he  shouted.  Napa,  Cal. 


TO  JOHN  GREENLEAF  WHITTIER. 

?T 

ON    THE    ANNIVERSARY    OF    HIS  ^TH    BIRTHDAY. 

O,  earnest  heart  that  kindly  feels 

For  all  oppressed  beneath  the  sky ; 

Strong  as  thy  mountain-rooted  oak, 
Warm  as  Aeolia's  tropic  sigh. 

So  long  as  despots  breathe  the  air, 

Or  protean  wrong  defies  the 

So  long  may  Time  give  gen'rous  years, 

And  keep  thy  fervid  stylus  bright. 

No  more  the  slave  with  clanking  chain 

Disturbs  thy  numbers'  graceful  flow, — 

His  grateful  heart  and  sable  hand 

Twine  fadeless  laurels  for  thy  brow. 

O,  nevermore  beneath  that  flag 

Where  Freedom's  god-like  sons  are  found, 
Shall  grieved  Columbia  pour  her  tears, 

To  see  her  children  captives  bound. 

May  gentle  Peace  inspire  thy  Muse, 

And  Love  and  Joy  breathe  through  thy  song  ; 
May  sweet  Content  for  work  well  done, 

Thy  ripe  and  honored  years  prolong. 

And  when  th^sun  shall  near  the  west, 

And  heav'n  at  last  break  on  thy  view ; 

May  Angel  guides  and  Seraph  hosts, 

Safe  conduct  give  to  shield  thee  through. 


From  shades  "  lang  syne  "  dear  forms  come  up 
(Like  ghosts  forbid  to  walk  the  earth), 

To  teach  thy  bard,  who  humbly  sings, 
This  simple  tribute  to  thy  worth. 


502  THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 

Thy  name,  to  him,  is  like  a  chain, 

And  ev'ry  link  is  wrought  of  gold  ; 
It  wreathes  with  gems  a  chalice  rich 

With  all  the  wond'rous  cup  can  hold. 

He  sees  in  stratum  deeply  hid, 

A  childhood's  vanished  joys  and  tears  ; 

And  over  it,  in  close  review, 

The  struggles  of  his  graver  years. 

He  draws  the  blinds,  and  Mem'ry  brings 
Her  priceless  trophies  into  night ; 

Of  winter  hours,  the  chimney's  glow, 
The  room  ablaze  with  ruddy  light. 

The  rattling  storm  that  smote  the  house, 
Borne  o'er  Atlantic's  crested  foam, 

Enhanced  the  gladsome  hours  within  ; 
(For  heaven  is  like  a  cheerful  home.) 

The  evening  long,  but  never  dull, 
Albeit  Boreas  loudly  roard, 

We  had  enough  to  welcome  give 

The  "  Snow  Bound  "  trav'ler  at  our  board. 

A  neighbor's  children  dropping  in, 

(They  always  found  the  latch  string  out) 

We  boldly  challenged  long- faced  Care 

With  merry  joke  and  roistering  shout. 

From  granite  cave  beneath  the  house, 

Brought  crimson  apples  up  the  stairs, 

And  when  the  well-earned  forfeit  paid, 

Kissed  bashful  cheeks  as  red  as  theirs. 

Soon  jest  and  prank  were  put  aside, 
And  drawn  out  table  cover'd  o'er 

With  magazine  and  calf-bound  tome  ; 
And  ev'ry  page  was  rich  with  lore. 

With  one  accord,  "  Tom,  read  to  us  " 

(He  stands  the  first  on  mem'ry's  list ; 

He  sleeps  beside  the  Golden  Gate  ; 

My  eyes  are  dim  with  gathering  mist.) 

No  need  to  urge.     He  slowly  turns 

The  well-thumbed  leaves  of  Whittier's  book 

And  to  his  thoughtful  audience  reads 
The  "  Royal  Bride  of  Pennacook." 

Enough  of  that.     Again  he  turns 

To  "  Songs  of  Freedom's  "  little  band, 

Which  shows  how  more  than  "  graven  arms," 
May  be  the  sign  of  "  Branded  Hand." 

rf\      He  turns  again, — The  very  room 

Seems  choked  with  odors  from  the  grave; 
We  hear  the  dip  of  Charon's  oar; 
Q  The  mournful  sob  of  Acheron's  wave. 

£«  U 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA.  5,0$ 

The  midnight  cry,  "  Bring  out  your  dead  "' 

Rin^s  wildly  through  the  fetid  air,  — 
Slow  moved  Death's  awful  carnival, 

The  sheeted  dead  seemed  everywhere- 

Responsive  to  the  harsh  command 

Is  brought  one,  only,  fragile  form  ; 
Tis  laid  upon  the  coarse  dead-cart, 

To  feel  no  more  life's  bitter  storm. 

Twas  she  who  watched  beside  the  couch, 

And  tried  to  mend  the  vital  thread  ; 
Like  her  who  sat  beside  the  tomb, 

To  see  the  Christ  rise  from  the  dead. 

(God  bless  these  angels  in  disguise, 

Whose  own  lives  guard  the  smitten  couch  ; 
Nepentha's  in  their  patient  ways, 

And  balm  that  heals  in  ev'ry 


Thus  sped  the  hours  with  little  thought 

That  Time,  the  thief,  was  stealing  so  ; 

Till  the  long  clock  with  stroke  of  ten 

Admonished  guests  'twas  time  to  go. 

Since  then  the  years  like  dreams  have  flown, 
And  still  my  years  unceasing  run  ; 

And  I  have  floated  on  their  tide 

'Till  I'm  a  man,  or  big  as  one. 


Thy  name  is  graven  on  my  heart 

Where  wasting  time  cannot  efface ; 
And  teeming  recollections  leave 

Along  the  way  their  golden  trace. 

God  bless  thee  through  thy  snowy  years, 

And  lengthen  out  life's  longest  span, 
And  ages  hence  the  world  will  tell 

Of  one  who  loved  his  fellow-man. 
Ogden,  Utah.  A.  S.  CONDON. 


SUNSET. 

Pink  clouds,  the  smiling  pages  of  the  sun, 

Glide  slowly  by, 
Like  new-born  hopes  that  cast  a  roseate  glow 

O'er  life's  gray  sky. 

Alas  !     That  king  and  pages  all,  should  sink 

Into  the  sea, 
And  leave  Fate's  bitter  shades  to  quickly  close 

Round  you  and  me. 

from  a  Rosary  of  Rhyme.  CLARENCE  URMY. 


5o4  THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


HOW    MISS    HOPKINS    NEARLY    GOT    MARRIED. 

Upcott  House  was  a  queer-looking  chair,  alternately  reading  a  large  print  Bi 
old  place  in  New  England,  standing  in  ble,  and  knitting  with  great  dignity.  She 
the  midst  of  a  small  estate.  Everything  was  just  thinking  what  a  wicked  place 
about  the  place  bespoke  of  ancient  English  America  must  be,  for  she  now  and  then 
origin,  and  so  exclusive  were  its  inmates  heard  a  little  of  the  world  through  her 
that  the  few  farmers  who  lived  in  the  vicin-  servants,  and  was  rejoicing  in  her  heart 
ity  knew  scarcely  anything  of  them.  that  she  was  so  far  removed  from  its  evil 

The  owner  and  tenant  of  Upcott  House  influences.  Little  reflections  like  this  are 
was  an  old,  or  rather  to  speak  more  cor-  good  sometimes,  for  were  it  not  for  their 
rectly,  a  middle-aged  maiden  lady  named  refreshing  influence,  those  of  us  to  whom 
Alvira  Hopkins.  The  term  "  old  maid  "  Nature  has  not  been  kind,  would  have  lit- 
would  be  a  more  appropriate  epithet,  if  tie  satisfaction  in  living.  At  this  juncture 
one  might  be  allowed  to  speak  so  plainly  of  a  tap  comes  at  the  door,  and  an  old  man 
one  of  aristocratic  descent.  Yes,  Miss  Hop-  in  knee  breeches  and  stockings,  totters 
kins  was  an  old  maid,  and  she  was  possess-  across  the  room  and  presents  a  letter  to 
ed  of  all  the  whims  and  fancies  usually  his  mistress. 

ascribed  to  those  unfortunate  mortals.  She  "A  letter  for  you,  madam,"  he  says, 
had  for  many  years  shut  herself  up  from  with  a  rheumatic  bow,  then  backing  to  the 
the  world  with  a  pair  of  quaint  old  confi-  door  to  await  orders, 
dential  servants,  who  from  their  long  service  "  A  letter  for  me  !  Who  can  be  writing 
in  the  family  had  become  almost  a  part  and  tome?"  She  breaks  open  the  seal,  and 
parcel  of  it.  reads  as  follows : 

The  life  at  Upcott  House,  at  the  period 

of  our  story,  was  exactly  the  same  as  it  had  "  KIRKTON  HOTEL,  Tuesday. 

been  in  the  Hopkins'  family  at  least  fifty  "MY  DEAR  ALVIRA/UI  am  stayln§.  at 
years  before— the  same  fashions  were  in  the  Kirkton  Hotel,  and  by  chance  learning 
vogue  and  the  same  manners.  Everything  y°ur  address  *  occurs  to  .me  to  send  y°u 
was  antiquated  and  seemed  to  bear  the  a  line  to  ask  if  you  are  wiling  to  make  up 
mustiness  of  faded  aristocratic  grandeur,  the  old  family  W****'  We  are  ^oth  get- 
like  the  three  old  people  who  might  now  be  tm§  old  now,  and  are  the  only  living 
said  to  constitute  the  family.  It  is  true  members.  If  you  share  my  spirit,  you  will 
that  Upcott  House  had  seen  the  time  when  find  mY  man  Wllham  at  the  depot  to  meet 
gallant  men  and  fair  women  flitted  hither  the  2:3°  train  tomorrow,  and  he  will  drive 
and  thither,  making  the  now  silent  rooms  You  to  mY  hotel.  l  thmk  J  make  .suffi' 
echowith  brilliant  conversation  and  sweet  cient  concession  m  taking  the  initiative  in 
music;  but  that  was  long,  long  ago,  when  this  matter>  and  exPect  y°u  toT  do  y°ur 
Miss  Hopkins  was  quite  a  little  thing.  The  share  and  come  and  see  ™e-  *  am  leav' 
years  rolled  on,  and  the  little  thing  grew  in§  for  Europe  at  once.  Your  affectionate 
into  a  girl,  but  no  suitor  sought  her  hand  cousin, 

in  marriage.  She  grew  into  a  woman,  and  It  took  the  good  lady  some  time  to  read 
the  hot  atmosphere  of  disappointment  this  curt  note,  as  she  was  very  shortsighted, 
turned  sour  her  milk  of  human  kindness.  But,  at  length,  getting  at  the  pith  of  it  a 
By  degrees  she  ceased  to  mix  with  the  cold  severe  expression,  more  cold  and  se- 
world,  and  by  degrees  she  drifted  further  vere  than  usual,  came  over  her  face.  She 
and  further  away  from  all  knowledge  of  seemed  to  be  having  a  struggle  with  her- 
outside  life.  In  short,  Miss  Hopkins  had  self — her  own  feelings  against  her  religious 
renounced  the  world  and  shut  herself  with-  convictions.  Presently  her  eye  fell  upon 
in  her  own  wicket  gate.  She  had  not  the  open  Bible,  and  her  better  nature  tri- 
kept  pace  with  the  times  and  felt  in  her  umphed.  She  looked  up  and  beckoned 
heart  that  the  world  was  fast,  very  fast  go-  to  the  footman, 
ing  to  the  devil.  "James  !  "  she  said,  "I  am  going  into 

Miss  Hopkins  was  sitting  alone  in   her   the  city  to-morrow." 
drawing-room    in    a    very  straight-backed        This   was    a  rude    shock  for  poor  old 


THE   GOLDEN  ERA. 


5°5 


James,  he  tottered  to  his  mistress's  side  was  a  matter  of  doubt.  But  Miss  Hopkins 
all  trembling  with  anticipation,  knowing  was  very  proud  of  her  "old  silk,"  and  no 
that  something  had  occurred.  doubt,  thought  it  suited  her — and  it  did 

"  G-o-o-d  G-r-a-c-i-o-u-s,  madam  !  Into  too,  for  they  were  both  a  little  back  of  the 
the  city  ?"  times. 

"  Yes,  James.  Send  Margaret  to  me  at  The  excitement  at  Upcott  House  was  at 
once."  fever  heat  until  the  hour  for  departure  ar- 

The  old  footman  shuffled  off  eagerly  rived ;  and  such  a  running  up  and  down 
with  the  news.  His  mistress  was  going  to  stairs  had  not  been  gone  through  for  many 
the  city  !  What  can  have  happened  ?  a  long  day.  At  last  a  hack  rumbled  up  to 
PresentlysMargaret  came  running  in  all  of  the  front  door  and  Miss  Hopkins  was 
a  flutter  with  excitement,  and  old  James  handed  in  with  a  world  of  wraps  after  hur- 
followed  to  the  door,  where  he  paused,  riedly  delivering  farewell  instructions 
breathless,  to  overhear  more.  enough  to  last  for  half  a  century. 

"Margaret,"  said  the  mistress  solemnly  The  railway  was  a  stranger  to  Miss 
and  impressively,  "  I  am  going  into  the  Hopkins,  but  with  the  assistance  of  the 
city  to-morrow."  hack-driver  she  was  safely  lodged  in  her 


gracious,    madam  !     Into    the  seat,  and,  beyond  a  little  nervousness,  ex 
perienced  nothing  of  consequence  until  she 
lived  together   arrived  at  her  destination. 


Good 
city  ?" 

These  three  persons  had 


so  long  that  they  all  spoke  and  acted 
one  individual. 


like       When  the  train  stopped  and  she  found 
herself  at  the    depot,   she  was  a  little   be- 


"Yes,  Margaret,   it  is  true ;  circumstan-  wildered  on    account  of  her  shortsighted- 


ces    make    it    necessary  for    me   to    once 
more  walk  through  the  streets  of  sinfulness 
even  as  Lot  walked  in  Sodom    and 
orrah." 

"But  you  will    not  go    alone, 
surely ;     something     might  happen ;    the 
world  is  a  very  wicked  place,  one   is    not, 
now-a-days,  safe  in  broad  daylight    in   the 
city." 


ness,    and  at  a  loss    to    find    her    cousin's 
vehicle.     Outside    the  depot   there   were 
Gom-   quite  a  number  of  vehicles,  and  after  most 
of  the  crowd   had  gone  away    Miss  Hop- 
madam,   kins  was  on  the  point  of  asking  some  one 
(who,    for  all  she   knew,    might  be  a  mur 
derer  or  a  robber,)  to  find  the  vehicle  for 
her.     At  this  juncture  a  cabman,  who  had 
been  sent  to  drive  a  wet  nurse  to  a  certain 


"  I  shall  go  alone,  Margaret,  there  is  no  address,  accosted  her  thus  : 
necessity  for  evil  to  befall  one  who   is   so        « Here    you  are,  mum,  this  'ere's  your 

well  acquainted   with  the  world   as  I  am.  kerredge." 

I    know  the   world,  Margaret,    and  know       "Dear  me!"  exclaimed  the  bewildered 
how  to  take  care  of  myself.   I  shall  wear  my  lady,  "are  you  William?" 
silk  dress,  my  best  one,   so  you    had   best        "  Yessum,    that    'ere's    my   name,  how- 
begin  at  once.     See  that  it  is  quite    clean,  somever  they    most  calls  me  Bill  'cept  in 
I  shall  wear  my  brown  wig."  perlite    serciety,    then    its    William.       Sit 

Margaret  was    not  quite    satisfied    until  right    there    mum.     I  suppose,"    he 


con- 
she  had  learned  all  the  details  of  the  visit,  tinued,  with  a  sly  wink,  "  I  must  drive 
and  when  at  length,  she  had  wheedled  kinder  steady  so's  not  to  churn  yer  up  ?  " 
out  of  her  mistress,  the  whole  story,  as  she  «  Dear  me,  William  !  you  are  very 
well  knew  how  to  do,  set  about  her  work  familiar,"  she  replied,  not  quite  knowing 
of  preparation.  Margaret  was  one  of  whether  or  no  to  be  angry,  as  it  might, 
those  strong-minded  old  servants,  who,  perhaps,  be  the  new  fashion,  and  she  did 
after  once  getting  a  footing  in  a  place,  not  want  to  make  an  exhibition  of  her 
keeps  it  by  force  of  will,  and  in  time  be-  ignorance. 

comes  the  tyrant  of  her  mistress.  "Look  'ere  mum,"  said  the  driver  grin- 

The  best  silk  dress — an  old  family  in-  ning  over  his  shoulder  as  he  gathered  up 
stitution — was  unpacked  from  some  remote  his  reins,  "I  don't  know  how  yer  got  a 
corner  where  it  had  lain  for  the  last  ten  hold  of  my  name,  but  howsomever  ye 
years.  It  was  known  to  have  belonged  to  might  as  well  call  me  '  Bill '  as  its  kinder 
her  grandmother,  but  how  many  gener-  more  social  like.  Ye  ain't  been  in  these 
ations  before  that  it  had  been  in  existence,  parts  afore  ?  " 


506 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


This  familiarity  was  just  a  little  more 
than  the  good  lady  could  stand,  so  she 
replied  rather  sharply  in  the  negative,  and 
assumed  a  manner  that  was  calculated  to 
freeze  the  vivacious  William.  But  it  was 
not  the  slightest  use  in  the  world,  for  that 
individual  merely  remarked,  half  aloud  : 

"  Tears  to  me  as  she's  a  pretty  tough 
old  fowl.  Blowed  if  I  think  it  aint  a  case 
•of  'buyin'  a  pig  in  a  poke.'" 

The  good  old  lady's  cup  of  wrath  now 
fairly  boiled  over,  but  she  could  never  de 
scend  to  bandy  words  with  such  a  low 
creature,  so  she  called  up  all  her  ancient 
dignity  to  command  his  respect.  Miss 
Hopkins  had  never  seen  her  cousin  and 
accordingly,  began  to  wonder  what  kind  of 
a  man  he  could  be  to  employ  such  an  ill- 
bred  creature.  But  she  determined  to 
take  full  and  complete  vengeance  when 
she  reached  her  destination. 

They  had  not  driven  very  far  up  the 
street  when  the  driver  pulled  up  at  a  beer 
saloon,  and  after  asking  the  lady  to  excuse 
him  whilst  he  "  made  a  call,"  went  in  for 
a  drink.  It  was,  perhaps,  fortunate  for 
William  that  Miss  Hopkin's  bad  sight  pre 
vented  her  from  knowing  she  was  in  front 
of  a  saloon, — actually  a  beer  saloon,  or  the 
consequences  might  have  been  unpleasant. 

Next  to  the  saloon  was  a  vacant  lot,  in 
which  stood  a  horse,  who,  seeing  friends 
drawn  up  in  front,  came  to  look  over  the 
fence  at  them.  Miss  Hopkins,  looking  up 
and  catching  sight  of  the  nodding  head, 
thought  it  was  somebody  bowing  to  her. 

"How  do  you  do?"  she  said  in  swave 
tones. 

The  horse  nodded  his  head  again,  and 
the  lady  thinking  her  bow  had  not  been 
observed,  bowed  again,  in  her  most  lady 
like  manner  ;  but  being  in  doubt  as  to  the 
sex  of  the  supposed  acquaintance,  thought 
it  best  to  let  the  person  speak  first.  The 
horse  nodded  again  twice  and  the  lady 
bowed  again. 

"How  do  you  do?  How  do  you  do?" 
She  said  louder,  and  beginning  to  feel  em 
barrassed.  The  horse  nodded  again  and 
this  time  gave  vent  to  a  faint  whinny. 
Miss  Hopkins  bowed  again  and  "begged 
pardon."  Then  the  thought  suddenly 
crossed  her  mind  that  it  might  be  her  cou 
sin  who  was  too  proud  to  come  to  her  and 
expected  her  to  go  to  him. 

"4re  you    Lambert,  my    cousin?"  she 


asked,  with  a  smile  and  voice  of  forgive 
ness.  The  horse  uttered  another  faint 
whinny,  and  nodded  its  head,  which  the 
lady  mistook  for  an  answer  in  the  affirma 
tive,  and  she  was  just  on  the  point  of  get 
ting  out  of  the  hack  when  she  was  restrain 
ed  by  a  loud  laugh  from  William,  who  had 
been  watching  her  for  several  moments, 
from  the  door. 

"  Ha  !  ha  !  ha  !"  laughed  that  individual, 
"  Blowed  if  she  ain't  bowin'  to  a  'orse  ! '; 
She's  a  queer  old  party  anyhow.  'Pears 
to  me  she's  been  drinkin'." 

William,  still  chuckling  to  himself, 
mounted  the  box,  whilst  Miss  Hopkins 
sank  back  in  her  seat,  mortified  at  having 
made  such  a  ridiculous  mistake,  which  she 
admitted  in  her  heart  furnished  some 
grounds  for  the  driver's  insulting  insinuation. 
She  felt  the  wide  gap  between  herself  and 
the  world,  and  was  making  a  secret  resolve 
never  to  travel  alone  any  more,  when  the 
hack  pulled  up,  and  she  was  shown  to  the 
door  by  the  driver,  who  rang  the  bell  for 
her.  A  girl  opened  the  door,  and  without 
a  word  she  was  ushered  into  a  dark  sitting- 
room  and  left  to  herself,  the  girl  hurrying 
off  without  giving  her  time  to  speak.  Miss 
Hopkins  began  to  think  the  present  man 
ners  a  very  deplorable  state  of  things  as 
she  sat  in  momentary  expectation  of  seeing 
her  cousin  walk  in. 

When  she  had  been  sitting  alone  for 
about  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  a  man  came  to 
the  door,  and  after  surveying  the  indignant 
lady  for  a  few  seconds,  went  away.  Pres 
ently  two  children  came  and  peeped  at  her 
round  the  door,  then  a  lady  in  a  dressing- 
gown,  with  a  very  young  child  in  her  arms, 
came  in,  and  after  making  a  formal  bow, 
took  a  chair  opposite  Miss  Hopkins. 

"  You  must  excuse  me,"  said  the  lady 
nervously,  "  but  we  did  not  hear  who  your 
husband  was.  Of  course  we  would  like  to 
know  that." 

"  My  husband  !  "  gasped  the  thunder 
struck  spinster.  "  My  dear  madam,  I — I 
— "  she  began  in  freezing  tones. 

"Good  gracious  !  cried  the  lady,"  you 
don't  mean  to  say  you  are  not  a  married 
woman  ?  " 

"No!  madam,"  almost  shrieked  the 
outraged  maiden.  "You  know  I  am  not 
married  ;  this  is  an  infamous  plot  to  insult 
me  !" 

"A    plot  to  insult  you  mdeed.madam  !" 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


5°7 


said  the  lady  rising  to  leave  the  room. "  I  beg 
that  you  will  leave  this  house  at  once,  and 
not  pollute  it  with  your  presence.  I  can't 
think  what  Mrs.  Jones  could  have  been 
about  to  send  such  a  creature  here.  You 
are  much  too  old  under  any  circum 
stances." 

The  lady  left  the  room  with  dignity  and 
Miss  Hopkins  quite  thunderstruck,  sat 
motionless  until  her  senses  became  clear 
enough  to  allow  her  to  think.  She  then 
resolved  to  sit  where  she  was  until  her 
cousin  should  make  his  appearance,  for  she 
was  now  fully  persuaded  that  the  whole  af 
fair  was  a  diabolical  plot  to  provoke  her. 
In  a  little  while  the  gentleman  who  had 
looked  at  her  before  from  the  door-way 
again  made  his  appearance,  and  Miss  Hop 
kins  was  on  the  point  of  asking  the  mean 
ing  of  the  insults,  when  he  gravely  said: 

"  My  good  woman,  my  wife  has  already 
told  you,  you  will  not  suit.  Will  you  have 
the  goodness  to  leave  the  house  ?  " 

"  I  shall  not  move  a  single  step  sir,  until 
I  see  my  cousin.  Are  you  Lambert  ?  " 

"Your  cousin!"  said  he,  thinking  she 
was  a  little  tipsy.  "Your  cousin  is  not 
here.  Now  do  go  before  I  am  obliged  to 
call  a  policeman." 

This  was  the  last  straw  that  broke  the 
camel's  back  ;  the  good  lady  rose  up  in 
her  wrath,  with  her  eyes  flashing  and  her 
chest  heaving  violently. 

"  Do  you  know  to  whom  you  are  speak 
ing?"  she  asked  in  an  awful  voice. 

"  Are  you  not  the  wet  nurse  ?  " 

"  The — the— oh  you  brute  !  I  shall 
have  you  punished  sir,  I  shall  have  you  im 
prisoned  if  it  costs  me  every  cent  I  have.  I 
will  show  you  sir,  that  Miss  Hopkins,  of 
Upcott  House,  is  not  to  be  insulted  in  this 
way  for  nothing." 

"  Oh,  pray,  pardon  me,  my  dear  lady," 
said  the  gentleman,  scarcely  able  to  repress 
a  twitching  of  the  lips.  "  I  see  now  we 
have  made  an  absurd  mistake." 

"Absurd,  sir!  There  is  nothing  absurd 
in  insulting  Miss  Hopkins  as  you  shall  dis 
cover  to  your  cost." 

It  took  a  long  time  to  persuade  the  good 
spinster  that  she  had  come  to  the  wrong 
house,  and  after  the  same  things  had  been 
said  over  and  over  again  a  great  many 
times,  a  hack  was  finally  called  and  she 
proceeded  on  her  way  to  the  Kirkton.  It 
was  now  quite  late  and  as  she  did  not  like 


the  idea  of  travelling  about  by  herself  after 
dark,  made  up  her  mind  to  spend  the 
night  in  the  city.  Upon  her  arrival  at  the 
Hotel  she  was  much  troubled  to  find  that 
her  cousin  had  left  about  an  hour  before 
her  arrival,  evidently  thinking  she  was  not 
coming.  The  good  lady  was  a  little  upset 
with  the  day's  events  and  very  much  disap 
pointed  that  she  would  not  see  her  cousin, 
so  ordering  a  bedroom  and  private  parlor, 
she  determined  to  retire  early. 

Now,  it  so  happened  that  a  runaway 
match  had  been  arranged  between  a  young 
and  loving  couple,  who  had  made  the 
Kirkton  their  rendezvous,  intending  to  be 
married  there.  The  landlord  had  been 
bespoken,  and  had  agreed  to  give  the 
young  lady  No.  6,  when  she  should  drive 
to  the  door  in  a  hack.  It  so  happened 
that  he  was  at  dinner  when  Miss  Hopkins 
arrived,  and  taking  it  for  granted  that  she 
was  the  expected  runaway,  gave  orders 
accordingly,  but  kept  out  of  sight  himself, 
as  he  was  a  prudent  man  and  wished  to 
wash  his  .hands  of  the  affair. 

The  good  spinster  supped  in  her  private 
parlor,  and  then  retired  for  the  night. 

She  had  not  been  in  bed  very  long, 
when  the  young  man  came  in  search  of 
his  lady  love.  After  a  few  whispered  words 
with  the  landlord  and  sundry  sly  winks 
from  that  gentleman,  the  young  Lothario 
hurried  upstairs  to  No.  6.  Softly  opening 
the  door  he  was  surprised  to  find  the  par 
lor  in  darkness.  He  lit  a  lamp  on  the 
table,  and  after  looking  around  walked 
softly  to  the  bedroom  door.  He  was  just 
about  to  rap  at  the  door  when  he  was  ter 
ror-stricken  to  hear  the  well-known  angry 
tones  of  his  lady  love's  father  loudly  de 
manding  to  be  shown  to  No.  6.  It  was 
no  time  for  ceremony,  so  he  opened  the 
door  hastily  and  went  in.  Miss  Hopkins, 
terrified  at  what  she  supposed  a  burglar, 
began  to  scream  loudly,  and  the  young 
man  naturally  thought  his  fiancee  was  ter 
rified  at  the  approach  of  her  father.  He 
had  no  time  to  attempt  to  console  her, 
however,  for  the  next  moment  the  angry 
parent  burst  into  the  room. 

"Hands  up  !"  he  roared. 

The  young  man  threw  up  his  hands, 
and  allowed  himself  to  be  searched  for 
weapons,  whilst  the  landlord  stood  by  with 
a  light.  Miss  Hopkins  hid  her  face  under 
the  bed  clothes  in  mortal  terror. 


508  THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 

"Sit  there  !"  said  the  enraged  father,  in  "Yes,"  said  the  minister,  opening  a 
a  voice  of  thunder.  "  By  Gum,  sir,  you  black  bag  and  laying  some  documents  and 
shall  marry  her  at  once.  Landlord,  will  things  on  the  table. 

you   send    a   man  to    fetch    the   nearest        "  Guess   this  will   fix    'em  up   for   sure, 
minister    and   let   him    know   what   he's  Where's  the  parties  ?  " 
wanted  for,  too  ?"  "That's  him  \     She's    inhere    dressing 

The  excited  pater  then  withdrew  to  the  herself,"  said  the  father,   striding  over   to 
sitting-room  and  closed  the  door  to  make  the  bedroom  door, 
sure  of  his  couple.  "  Now,    then  !"   he   roared,   "  ain't   you 

The  good  lady  lay  with  her  head  cover-  dressed  yet  ?" 

ed  all  the  time  thinking  that  at  least  she  " Oh,  sir!"  came  faintly  from  beneath 
was  going  to  be  robbed  and  perhaps  mur-  the  bed-clothes. 

dered;  but  when  she  heard  that  she  was  "None  of  this  blasted  nonsense!  I'm 
to  be  married  she  nearly  fainted  away,  not  going  to  be  humbugged  any  longer, 
After  a  few  moments'  silence  the  young  you  shall  be  married  in  your  night-gown, 
man  groped  his  way  to  the  bedside,  anx-  — by  Heavens  you  shall  !  Minister,  fetch  a 
ious  to  console  her.  light  along  and  we'll  make  a  job  of  it  right 

"  Darling,  "    he  whispered,    "  Don't    be   off." 

frightened,  they  are  going  to  marry  us.  It's  The  minister  came  in  with  the  light  fol- 
all  right."  lowed  by  the  young  man.  Miss  Hopkins 

"  Going   to — to    marry !    oh,    do   leave  still  kept  her  head    covered  and  was  now 
me — pray  leave  me,  sir — oh,  what  shall  I   almost  hysterical, 
do  ! "  "  Now,  then,  turn  out,  or  sit  up  if  you 

It  sounded  like  "  don't  leave  me,"  from  like  it  better  !"  cried  the  father,  giving  the 
under   the  bed-clothes,   and   the  amorous   clothes  an  angry  twitch.     But  she  clung  to 
youth,  in   his  anxiety  to  assure  her  he  had  them  with  a  vice-like  grip  and  the  only  re- 
no  such  intention,    snatched   the   clothes  ply  was  a  sob  of  terror, 
from  her  head  and  imprinted  a  kiss  which        "  You  wish  to  marry  this  young  man  ?" 
landed   somewhere  near  the  nape  of   her  said  the  minister  bending  over  her. 
neck,  bringing  forth  a  dreadful  scream.  "  Never  !"  shrieked  the  lady. 

"What's  all  this  blamed  row  about?"  "You  hear  that?"  said  the  minister, 
roared  the  father,  putting  his  head  in  at  "You  cannot  make  her  marry  against  her 
the  door.  "Come  in  here,  sir,  and  let  will,  you  know." 

her  alone  till  after  you're  spliced.  Dress  "  Dash  my  buttons  !  I'll  soon  change 
yourself,  you  vixen,  do  you  hear?  "  her  mind  for  her."  He  took  a  hasty  step 

"  Oh,  sir  !  "  came  faintly  from  the  bed.   to  the  bedside  and   snatched  the  clothes 

"Silence  !  "  roared  the  father,  "and  do  violently  away. 

what  I  tell  you,  or  I'll  have  you  married  in  "  Oh,  sirs,  sirs  !"  wailed  the  good  maid- 
your  nightgown,  by — by  gum,  I  will."  en  sitting  up  in  bed  and  wringing  her 

The  father  and  his  would-be  son-in-law  hands  in  terror.  "  For  the  love  of  God 
then  withdrew  to  the  sitting-room.  The  have  pity  on  me  !" 

father  took  a  seat  with  the  back  of  his  chair  "  Blank,  blank,  blank  !"  roared  the  m- 
against  the  door,  and  putting  his  feet  on  furiated  father,  "that  old  hag  ain't  my 
the  table,  prepared  to  make  himself  comfor-  Norah.  You  blank,  blank,  blank  fool,"  he 
table.  cried  to  the  astonished  young  man,  "this 

"  You  need  not  be  in  such  a  darned  scot  is  one  of  your   blasted   larks.     Where    is 
about  it,"  said    the  young  man  at  length,   my  daughter,  you  hound?" 
"I  was    going    to    marry    her    all    right."        "Oh,  oh,  oh,  my  goodness  !     He  called 
But  the  surly  father  was  not   to  be  drawn  nie  an  'old  hag,'  "    shrieked  the  maiden, 
into  conversation,  anyhow,  and    remained  sinking  back  on  her  pillow    almost  in   a 
in  grim  silence  until  he  heard  the  landlord  faint, 
at  the  door.  The  intended  bridegroom  having   stood 

"  Sorry  to  have  to  bring  you  here  at  this  as  much  as  a  man  could  be  expected  to 
time  of  the  night,"  be  said  to  the  minister,  stand  from  a  father-in-law,  upon  seeing 
"but  business  is  business.  Got  all  your  the  turn  events  had  taken,  made  it  a  pre- 
fixings?  "  text  to  violently  assault  that  gentleman. 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


509 


The  two  men  rolled  over  on  the  floor  ;  the 
landlord  and  minister  fled,  shutting  the 
door  after  them,  and  Miss  Hopkins,  after 
screeching  fearfully,  went  off  in  a  dead 
faint. 

There  is  very  little  more  to  tell.  Miss 
Hopkins  got  very  little  sleep  that  night, 
even  after  the  trouble  was  all  over,  for  her 
nerves  had  received  a  rather  severe  shock. 
Her  wrath  with  the  landlord  was  unbound 
ed,  and  to  him  alone  she  attributed  the 
whole  affair.  Indeed,  she  never  quite 
managed  to  understand  the  thing  properly, 
and  actually  went  away  with  the  idea  that 
a  real  attempt  had  been  made  to  marry 
her.  She  had  at  one  time  made  up  her 
mind  to  bring  the  matter  into  court ;  but 
on  second  thought  concluded  it  was  bet 
ter  to  retire  within  her  gate  and  keep  there 
for  the  rest  of  her  days.  The  world  was 
far  too  wicked  a  place  for  her,  and  the  less 
she  had  to  do  with  it  the  better  would  she 
be  for  it. 

The  next  morning  Miss  Hopkins  ar 
rived  home  and  found  her  two  old  ser 
vants  at  their  wits'  end  to  account  for 
her  absence.  The  good  old  lady  walked 
in  to  her  sitting-room,  with  an  air  of  such 
import  that  the  unpleasant  surmises  of 
those  two  old  bodies  underwent  a  confir 


mation,  and  they  began  to  prepare  them 
selves  for  the  worst.  Miss  Hopkins  seated 
herself  in  an  old  carved  oak  chair,  in 
which  she  had  been  Accustomed  to  be 
seated  when  settling  matters  of  family  im 
portance. 

"James,  Margaret !"  she  began  in  sepul 
chral  tones,  "I  have  been  grossly — violent 
ly  outraged!" 

Margaret  screamed  and  James  trembled 
with  agitation. 

"  Yes,  they — they  tried  to  make  me 
m-marry  by  force,"  she  exclaimed,  burst 
ing  into  tears. 

James  seized  his  mistress'  hand,  and 
began  to  maudle  and  kiss  it,  whilst  Mar 
garet  threw  herself  down  on  the  floor,  and 
hugged  her  mistress'  knees.  The  three 
remained  speechless  for  some  time  before 
Margaret  could  command  voice  enough  to 
say : 

"Did — did  they  do — ?" 

"No,  Margaret,  I  am  still  Miss  Hop 
kins." 

"Thank  God  for  that!"  exclaimed  the 
two  servants  in  chorus. 

"  Amen  !"  exclaimed  the  good  spinster, 
with  something  of  irony  in  her  voice. 

WALTER  E.  ADAMS. 


SKETCH    OF    CALIFORNIA   SHIPPING. 


A  little  more  than  three  hundred  years 
ago  Sir  Francis  Drake  brought  the  first 
Anglo-Saxon  ship  to  the  coast  of  Califor 
nia.  After  sailing  through  the  straits  of 
Magellan  and  capturing  many  Spanish 
ships,  »he  determined  to  return  to  Europe 
by  sailing  west,  in  order  to  avoid  the  Span 
ish  ambush  he  anticipated  would  be  in 
wait  for  him  if  he  returned  the  way  he 
came.  Contrary  winds,  however,  pre 
vented  his  design,  and  drove  him  north 
ward  until  he  found  himself  in  very  cold 
latitudes.  He  gave  up  the  project  and 
returned  to  the  coast  of  California,  strik 
ing  it  a  little  to  the  northward  of  the  Bay 
of  San  Francisco.  Some  say  he  discov 
ered  the  Bay  of  San  Francisco,  but  it  is  by 
no  means  certain  that  he  did. 

This  may  be  considered  the  pioneer  of 
California  shipping.  Could  Sir  Francis 


sail  into  the  Bay  to-day  he  might  well  gaze 
around  him  with  astonishment  even  more 
marked  than  did  Rip  Van  Winkle  after 
his  long  sleep  in  the  mountains.  But  Sir 
Francis  would  not  be  alone  in  his  aston 
ishment  by  any  means,  for  many  a  master 
of  the  floating  palaces  of  the  present  day, 
would  gaze  with  wonder  at  the  frail  vessel 
scarcely  larger  than  a  schooner,  which  had 
so  successfully  battled  with  the  elements 
through  so  long  a  voyage.  The  primitive 
rig  and  antique  hull  would  attract  thou 
sands  to  the  city  front,  who  would  gaze 
with  admiration  upon  the  stout-hearted 
pioneer,  who  with  so  many  disadvantages 
could  do  so  much. 

The  ship  of  the  sixteenth  century  was 
a  peculiar  contrivance,  and  not  very  man 
ageable.  She  could  not  work  to  windward 
at  all,  except  in  a  light  breeze,  and  even 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


then  it  was  a  doubtful  undertaking.  The 
ships  of  the  present  day  can  all  work  to 
windward  as  long  as  there  is  any  breeze 
at  all ;  they  have  better  compasses  and 
unfailing  means  of  finding  their  position 
at  sea  within  a  radius  of  three  miles.  We 
cannot  then  do  otherwise  than  admire  the 
unceasing  vigilance  and  consummate  skill 
of  the  bold  spirits  of  the  sixteenth  cent 
ury,  who,  under  the  greatest  disadvantages, 
could  navigate  safely,  when  even  steam 
vessels  of  the  present  day,  possessed  of 
every  means  short  of  infallibility,  are  fre 
quently  wrecked. 

Although  the.e  were  many  vessels  on 
the  Coast  previous  to  the  year  1800,  no 
trade  was  carried  on  up  to  that  date ; 
most  of  the  vessels  were  for  other  purpos 
es  than  trading.  A  little  exchange  had 
been  carried  on  along  the  coast  of  Califor 
nia,  but  no  regular  trade.  "It  is  sad  not 
to  see  a  single  owner  on  the  Pacific  Coast," 
wrote  Costanso  in  1794.  "There  is  no 
trade  in  the  South  Sea  islands,  and  conse 
quently  no  revenue." 

The  old  Spanish  laws  strictly  forbade 
all  trade,  not  only  with  foreign  vessels  and 
foreign  goods,  but  with  Spanish  and  Spanish- 
American  goods,  except  the  regular  arti 
cles  brought  by  transports.  At  first  the 
transports  were  forbidden  to  bring  other 
goods  than  those  included  in  the  regular 
invoices  to  the  habilitados.  After  the  year 
1785,  however,  the  trade  was  free  on  trans 
ports  except  that  from  1790  to  1794  one- 
half  of  the  regular  duties  had  to  be  paid, 
and  at  no  time  could  foreign  goods  be 
admitted. 

Whale  ships  began  to  make  their  appear 
ance  in  the  fall  of  1882,  and  have  in 
creased  in  numbers  year  by  year  since  that 
period.  However,  some  impolitic  port 
regulations  had  the  effect  of  sending  off  a 
a  great  number  of  them  to  the  Hawaiian 
islands,  a  place  much  less  convenient  for 
getting  supplies  than  San  Francisco,  though 
in  other  respects  more  desirable ;  for  when 
the  gold  fever  broke  out  the  sailors  would 
desert,  and  it  was  at  that  time  impossible 
to  replace  them.  It  was,  therefore,  in 
many  cases,  irrespective  of  port  regula 
tions,  found  expedient  to  refit  and  victual 
at  Honolulu. 

Previous  to  the  year  1822  a  small  traffic 
was  carried  on  between  Mexico  and  Cali 
fornia,  the  latter  exporting  principally 


tallow  and  a  little  soap.  A  few  small  ves 
sels  from  the  Hawaiian  islands  occasional 
ly  visited  San  Francisco,  and  in  the  last 
named  year  trade  began  between  Califor 
nia,  the  United  States  and  Europe. 

The  first  harbor  master  of  San  Francisco 
was  Captain  W.  A.  Richardson,  who  was 
appointed  in  1835.  He  it  was  who 
erected  the  first  dwelling  of  any  kind  in 
San  Francisco,  which  consisted  of  a  can 
vas  hut,  supported  on  a  wooden  frame. 
The  captain's  occupation  at  the  time  was 
the  management  of  two  small  schooners, 
one  belonging  to  the  Mission  of  San  Fran 
cisco  and  the  other  to  the  Mission  of  Santa 
Clara.  These  schooners  were  employed 
in  bringing  the  produce  of  the  farms 
around  the  bay  to  the  sea-going  vessels 
at  Yerba  Buena  Cove.  The  amount  of 
freight  then  received  was  ten  cents  per 
hide,  and  one  dollar  for  each  bag  of  tallow. 
The  tallow  was  melted  down  and  run  into 
hide-bags,  which  averaged  twenty-five  cents 
a  fanega  (about  two  and  a  half  English 
bushels.) 

The  first  vessel  built  in  California  was 
launched  about  this  time.  This  was  a 
small  schooner  of  about  thirty-three  tons, 
built  for  Carlos  Carrillo  and  William  G. 
Dana,  for  coasting  trade  and  otter  fishing. 

Some  years  before  this  Yerba  Buena 
Cove  had  been  habitually  visited  by  Rus 
sian  ships  for  small  quantities  of  supplies^ 
One  of  these  vessels  took  away  annually 
about  one  hundred  and  eighty  or  two 
hundred  tons  of  provisions.  In  the  year 
1816  the  English  sloop  of  war  "  Racoon  " 
entered  the  port,  and  in  1827  the 
"Blossom,"  of  the  same  nation,  on  a  sur 
veying  cruise.  In  the  last  named  year  the 
"Artemesia,"  French  frigate  of  sixty  guns, 
arrived.  In  1839  there  appeared  the 
English  surveying  ships  "Sulphur"  and 
"Starling."  In  1841  the  first  American 
ship  of  war — the  "  San  Luis"  (sloop) — ar 
rived,  and  in  the  same  year  the  "  Vincen- 
nes,"also  American,  on  a  surveying  cruise. 
After  this,  ships  of  war  of  all  nations  have 
frequently  entered  the  Bay. 

On  November  15,  1847,  the  first  steam 
vessel  of  any  description  was  brought  from 
Sitka,  by  Mr.  Leidesdorff,  and  made  a 
trip  round  Wood  Island.  Being  the 
first  vessel  of  the  kind  in  California  it  was 
called  the  "Steamboat."  Two  days  later 
she  sailed  for  Santa  Clara,  and  in  the  Feb- 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


ruary  following  was  sunk  in  a  heavy 
"norther." 

On  Sept.  9th,  the  first  square-rigged  ves 
sel  discharged  cargo  at  Broadway  wharf. 
This  was  the  brig  "  Belfast,"  from  New 
York.  The  price  of  goods  fell  in  conse 
quence  25  per  cent,  and  real  estate  rose 
from  50  to  100  per  cent. 

On  February  28th,  1849,  the  steamship 
"  California  "  arrived,  being  the  first  of  a 
line  of  mail  service  on  the  coast,  which  is 
now  known  as  the  Pacific  Mail  Steamship 
Co.  For  twenty  years  the  "  California  " 
ran  on  the  Coast  carrying  passengers  and 
fast  freight.  She  was  afterwards  laid  up 
and  then  sold.  The  new  owner  converted 
her  into  a  bark,  and  she  has  since  been  to 
many  ports  under  that  rig.  A  short  time 
ago  she  was  again  in  the  Bay,  and  is,  at 
the  time  of  writing,  on  the  way  to  Mel 
bourne,  Australia.  She  is  said  to  be  an 
extremely  lucky  vessel,  and  a  remarkably 
fast  sailer.  When  last  in  the  Bay  some 
planks  were  taken  from  the  bow  and 
she  was  found  to  be  in  a  complete 
state  of  preservation,  though  nearly  forty 
years  old. 

In  October,  1849,  the  second  of  the  P. 
M.  S.  Company's  steamers  arrived.  This 
was  the  "  Oregon  ";  she  brought  350  pas 
sengers.  The  steamboat  then  became  a 
regular  institution,  and  a  line  was  estab 
lished  between  New  York  and  San  Fran 
cisco  via  Panama.  The  arrival  and  de 
parture  of  the  steamer,  at  first  once  a 
month,  and  afterwards  once  a  week,  was 
an  event  of  unusual  attraction.  Business 
was  almost  entirely  suspended  for  the  day, 
and  the  people  crowded  to  the  wharf. 
The  Agent,  by  virtue  of  his  position,  was 
one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  city.  The 
immense  business  of  the  Company  soon 
attracted  competition,  and  a  rival  line  was 
established  crossing  from  ocean  to  ocean 
through  Nicaragua.  This  new  line  ob 
tained  large  patronage,  until  the  route  was 
closed  by  the  occupation  of  the  country  by 
Walker's  filibustering  party. 

The  overland  mail  route  which  ran  be 
tween  San  Francisco  and  St.  Louis  in  1859, 
and  the  Middle  route  between  Sacramento 
and  Missouri  in  1861,  took  but  few  pas 
sengers,  probably  on  account  of  the  three 
weeks'  jolting,  night  and  day  over  bad 
roads  ;  and  for  twelve  years,  until  the 
completion  of  the  transcontinental  railroad, 


the  P.  M.  S.  Company  had  no  serious 
competition.  They  were,  therefore,  able  to 
build  the  largest  and  most  comfortable 
vessels  afloat.  The  importance  of  this 
company  was  greatly  increased  by  the 
subsidizing  of  a  mail  route  to  China, 
which  opened  from  San  Francisco  to 
Hong  Kong  on  ist  of  January,  1867,  and 
began  to  make  monthly  trips  in  1868.  The 
business  was  regular  and  safe,  and  the 
revenue  immense,  but  the  management  fell 
into  the  the  hands  of  stock-jobbers,  and 
the  stockholders  were  sacrificed. 

Besides  this  misfortune,  the  company 
was  obliged  to  pay  extortionate  rates  to 
the  Panama  Railroad  Company  for  the  use 
of  its  fifty  miles  of  transportation.  Rival 
lines  were  then  established  across  the 
Pacific  to  China,  and  the  railroad  began 
to  take  the  passengers  between  New  York 
and  San  Francisco.  Some  time  ago  the 
company  sold  their  line  of  steamers  run- 
ming  to  Oregon  and  northern  ports.  For 
the  last  thirty-three  years  the  Pacific  Mail 
Steamship  Company  has  been,  and  still 
is,  one  of  the  largest  transfer  companies  of 
the  world;  and  though  the  majority  of  its 
stock-holders  are  still  in  New  York,  the 
center  of  business  has  been,  from  the  first, 
in  this  city.  For  many  years  the  company 
had  no  steamers  on  the  Atlantic,  whilst 
it  has  always  had  at  least  two  lines  on  the 
Pacific.  Until  a  very  recent  date  it  has 
had  three  lines  on  the  Pacific,  but  that  to 
Australia  has  recently  been  withdrawn. 
The  two  remaining  lines  run  to  China  and 
New  York  via  Panama.  Among  the 
steamers  possessed  by  the  P.  M.  S.  Com 
pany,  are  the  "City  of  Pekin,"  5000  tons, 
the  " Colima, "  2,900 tons,  the  "City  of  Syd 
ney  "and  "City  of  New  York,"  each  3,200 
tons,  and  a  number  of  smaller,  though  by 
no  means  inferior  vessels.  The  company 
suffered  a  severe  loss  in  the  recent  wreck 
of  the  magnificent  "  City  of  Tokio,"  which 
with  the  "City  of  Pekin,"  was  one  of  the 
largest  steamships  afloat. 

The  first  jail  in  San  Francisco  was  the 
hull  of  the  brig  "Euphemia,"  which  was 
dismantled  and  hauled  on  the  mud  flats 
near  the  shore  where  she  soon  became  em 
bedded,  and  afterwards  rotted  away. 
About  the  same  time  a  vessel  called  the 
"Apollo,"  was  moored  near  the  shore, 
and  as  the  city  improved  lots  were 
piled  in  on  the  mud  flats,  far  beyond 


512 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


where  the  "Apollo"  lay  and  she  gradually 
became  surrounded  by  houses  and  streets. 
The  dilapidated  hull  was  made  into  a 


many  cases   the  wages  of  the  seamen  ex 
ceeded  that  of  the  captain  himself. 

As  early  as  1848  the  want  of  wharves 
drinking  saloon,  and  strangers  were  sur-  was  seriously  felt,  and  it  was  not  until  1 849 
prised  to  find  the  hull  of  a  large  ship  in  that  any  steps  were  taken  in  the  matter. 


the  midst  of  the  city. 

In  October  1849,  steam  navigation 
began  to  be  adopted  on  the  Bay  and 
upper  waters,  just  two  years  after  the 
first  steamer,  previously  mentioned,  had 
made  her  appearance.  Speculators  then 
sent  out  some  good  steamers  from  the 
Atlantic  States.  The  "Pioneer,"  a  little 
iron  steamer,  was  the  first  sent  out.  She 
arrived  in  pieces,  and  was  put  together  in 


San    Francisco.     On    the  9th  of  October   tonnage  at  any  tide. 


At  that  time  a  proper  wharf  association  was 
formed,  capital  raised,  and  operations  be 
gun.  By  December  of  the  same  year  800 
feet  of  wTharf  was  completed  ;  but  the  great 
fire  in  1850  destroyed  most  of  it.  In 
August  following,  measures  were  adopted 
for  continuing  the  work,  and  the  wharf 
was  extended  to  two  thousand  feet,  at  a 
cost  of  $18,000.  The  wharf  was  then 
capable  of  berthing  ships  of  the  largest 


the  small  steamer,  "  Mint,'"'  made  her  trial 
run  on  the  Bay,  which  proved  highly  satis- 


In  the  great  fire  of  1851    some   of  the 
old   store    ships,    which    had   been   built 


factory.  She  soon  began  to  ply  between  San   round  as  the  city  increased,  were  burned. 
Francisco  and  the  upper  waters.     On  the 
same  day  the  screw  propellor,  "McKim," 


One   of  these,  the    "Niantic,"  had    long 
lain  at  the  corner  of   Clay    and    Sansome 


left  for  Sacramento.  Previously  to  the  in-  streets,  where  the  hotel  of  that  name  now 
troduction  of  steamers  on  the  rivers,  all  stands.  In  digging  the  foundation  for 
traffic  was  carried  on  by  means  of  schoon-  the  present  hotel,  it  is  said  that  a  case  of 
ers  or  sloops,  which  would  sometimes  take  fine  old  champagne  was  found  among  the 


ten  days  on  the  trip  to  Sacramento.  The 
steamers  began  to  run  every  alternate  day, 
sailing  from  Sacramento  on  the  interven- 


decayed  timbers.  The  "Apollo"  and 
"  General  Harrison  "  were  also  burned  at 
this  time.  By  breaking  up  the  wharves, 


ing  day.     The  fares    at    that    time  were,    and  so  cutting  off  the  connection,  an  im- 
cabin,  $30,  or  $20  on  deck.    If  berths  were   mense  amount  of  valuable   shipping    was 

saved,  which  at  one  time  was  in  imminent 
peril. 

The  earliest  shipping  records  of  Cali 
fornia  are  for  the  year  ending  June  30, 
1851,  for  which  the  value  of  imports  from 
foreign  ports  amounted  to  $13,530.  The 
earliest  record  of  exports  is,  for  the  year 


used  $5  extra  was  charged  ;  meals  on 
board  were  $2  each.  The  well-known 
steamer,  "Senator,"  was  soon  afterwards 
placed  on  the  line,  and  the  little  "  Mint  " 
taken  off  and  placed  on  another  line.  This 
was  the  commencement  of  a  very  great  and 
increasing  trade. 


Towards  the  end  of  1849  there  wrere  be-  ending  June,  1854,  valued  at  $3,466,222, 
tween  three  and  four  hundred  square  rig-  and  of  imports  for  that  year  $8,456,633. 
ged  vessels  of  all  kinds  in  the  Bay.  The  Total  value  in  that  section  $i  1,922,855. 
crews  of  these  vessels  had  deserted  during  In  October,  1851,  there  were  four  hun- 
the  gold  rush,  so  that  they  were  unable  to  dred  and  fifty-one  vessels  of  all  classes  in 
go  to  sea.  Many  of  them  never  got  away  the  Bay,  nine  of  which  were  ocean 
at  all,  but  rotted  and  tumbled  to  pieces  at  steamers.  Of  the  remainder,  one  hun- 
their  moorings.  As  stores  and  dwelling  dred  and  forty-eight  wrere  store-ships  be- 
places  were  scarce  at  that  time,  and  labor  longing  to  all  nations,  though  mostly  to 
yet  more  scarce,  many  of  these  vessels  were  America.  Most  of  these  store-ships  were 


hauled  on  the  mud  flats  where 
came  imbedded,  and  used  as 
houses,  saloons,  stores,  etc.,  to  accomodate 


they  be-   among     those    that     came    in     1848-9, 
lodging   previously    mentioned    as    rotting    in    the 
Bay ;  others  were  unseaworthy  ships  that 


the  crowrded  population.  These  ships  had  been  pressed  into  the  service  to  carry 
were  also  enclosed  with  houses  of  brick  immigrants  during  the  gold  fever, 
and  frame  when  the  city  grew  over  the  In  June,  1852,  from  the  Harbor  Mas- 
flats.  When  the  gold  fever  began  to  die  ter's  report — that  of  Captain  King — it 
out,  the  sailors  returned  and  many  of  the  appears  that  seventy-four  vessels,  entitled  to 
ships  were  able  to  go  to  sea ;  though  in  be  called  "clipper  ships"  and  averaging 


THE    GOLDEN    ERA. 


5*3 


over     1,000    tons    burthen,    had   arrived  track  of  eddying  foam    far    in    the    rear, 
in  San    Francisco    Bay    during   the    past   Some    of  these  vessels    have    made    four 
three    years.     These    records    commence  hundred  miles  in  twenty-four  hours, 
with     the     well-known    brig,      "  Colonel 

Fremont"  in  May,  1849,  and  in-  In  thLe  early  days,  wrecks  do  not  seem 
eludes  the  "Aramingo,"  which  arrived  to  have  been  so  frequent  as  may  be  rea- 
in  1852.  The  average  passage  of  these  sonably  expected,  when  it  is  remembered 
vessels  was  125  days  on  the  trip  outward,  that  many  vessels  quite  unseaworthy  under- 
though  some  made  the  voyage  in  a  little  took  ^  voyage  from  the  East  to  Califor- 
morethan  half  that  time.  The  "Flying  nla"  On  March  6th'  l883>  the  Paddle 
Cloud,"  which  arrived  in  August,  1851,  s^eamer>  "  Tennessee,"  of  the  Pacific  Mail 
made  the  trip  in  eighty-nine  days  from  Company,  went  ashore  at  Tagus  Beach, 
New  York.  The  "Sword  Fish"  made  Bolmas  Ba^  The  vessel  ran  on  thls 
the  trip  in  ninety  days;  the  "Surprise,"  bea?  between  the  cliffs  ma  dense  fog. 
"Sea  Witch"  and  the  "Flying  Fish,"  Had  she  struck  on  the  cliffs,  every  soul 
made  the  run  in  ninety-six,  ninety-seven  must  have  been  lost ;  but  as  it  happened, 
and  ninety-eight  days  respectively.  But  all  were  saved.  Within  a  few  weeks  of  this 
these  records  have  been  surpassed  by  ships  dlusaste^  *wo  ™me  big  wrecks  occurred. 
sailing  from  San  Francisco  to  Eastern  The  "  Independence  of  Vanderbilt  s  In- 
ports,  on  account  of  the  prevailing  wester-  dependent  line,  struck  a  hidden  rock  a 
ly  winds  at  Cape  Horn.  Thus,  the  mi.le  from  ^^  at  Daybreak.  The  sea 
"Northern  Light  "  ran  to  Boston  in  seven-  bem§  <~alm  at  the  tlme>  the  *™f™  was 
ty-six  days,  in  the  year  1853.  There  are  backed  °?  but,  soon  .bef n  to  leak  badlv' 
a  great  manv  fine  ocean  steamers  afloat  Tt  was  then  determmed  to  steam  for  a 
now  that  could  not  make  the  voyage  in  beach  about  five  miles  awa^'  and  beach 
so  short  a  time  ;  and  when  it  is  considered  her'  The  Passengers  and  crew  had  hith- 
that  the  wind  could  not  have  been  always  erto  been  calm  and  collected,  but  it  was 
steady,  or  always  favorable,  or  even  always  soon  ^covered  that  the  vessel  was  on  fire, 
blowing,  we  get  some  idea  of  the  immense  and  a  Pani?  set  m'  Thf  Pe°Ple  Became 
speed  these  ships  were  capable  of  making.  frantlc'  and  many  leaPed  overboard  to  es- 
The  clipper  ships  were  virtually  a  creation  caPe  the  flamf>  but  ^  tc\  Perlsh  m  the 
of  San  Francisco,  for  the  necessity  of  car-  water"  Allorder  was  lost  and  the  scene  was 
rying  goods  as  quickly  as  possible  to  the  horrible  m  the  extreme  Strong  men  thrust 
distant  market,  one,  too,  which  was  so  the  women  and  children  aside  to  save 
likely  to  be  over-stocked,  forced  builders  themselves.  Of  the  four  hundred  and  four- 
to  design  a  new  class  of  vessel  of  superior  ^een  ^  on  board,  two  hundred  perished, 
model,  in  point  of  speed.  Hence,  the  Deluding  seventeen  children  and  fifteen 
modern  clipper  with  her  great  length,  ™men-  Three  days  after  this  disaster 
sharp  entrance  and  clearance  and  flat  bot-  the  steamship  «  Lewis,  of  the  Nicaragua 
torn.  These  magnificent  vessels  now  lme!  ran  ashorc  m  a  fo§  Slx  milesq  ™rth  °J 
make  the  longest  voyages  known  to  com-  Bolmas  Bay-  The  three  hundred  and 
merce,  running  both  coasts  of  the  Ameri-  ei§hteen  souls  on  board  were  all  saved.  A 
cas  in  four  months,  whilst  the  ordinary  high  sea  was  running,  and  the  vessel  soon 
ships  of  the  old  model  would  take  from  went  to  Pieces:  Xt  seemed  that  there  was 
seven  to  eight  months  on  the  same  trip,  a  kind  of  fatality  attending  San  Franciscan 
The  contrast  is  very  striking  between  the  steamers  at  that  period,  for  eleven  vessels 
short,  chunky  ships  that  brought  the  first  °uf  thls  Ascription  were  totally  lost  within 
Europeans  to  California,  and  the  beautiful  the  Previous  two  years, 
birdlike  clipper  of  the  present  day,  some  The  number  of  vessels  which  entered 
of  which  register  as  mnch  as  three  thou-  the  Bay  in  1881,  including  small  craft  en- 
sand  tons.  A  clipper  ship  with  all  sail  gaged  in  foreign  and  domestic  trade,  was 
set  in  a  fresh  breeze  is  one  of  the  most  3,500  or  1,700,000  tons  ;  an  average  of 
bdautiful  sights  a  man  can  hope  to  see.  485  tons  to  each  vessel.  Of  these  174 
She  careens  over  with  the  pressure  of  the  were  steamers.  Fifty  vessels  came  from 
sail,  and  gently  swaying  to  and  fro,  dashes  China,  averaging  2,500  tons  each,  sixty 
along  like  a  race  horse,  leaving  a  long  from  American  ports  on  the  Atlantic  aver- 


5T4 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


aging  i, 600  tons  each,  and  200  from  Great 
Britain  averaging  1,400  each.  The  re 
mainder  averaged  less  than  1,400  tons 
each. 

The  charges  for  pilotage,  towage,  dock 
age,  wharfage  and  repairs  at  San  Francisco 
and  the  Columbia  River,  are  the  subject  of 
much  complaint  and  annoyance  to  the  ship 
master,  and  are  also  serious  obstacles  to 
the  development  of  the  shipping  interests 
of  this  State.  The  pilot  fees,  fixed  by 
Legislature  under  the  influence  of  politi 
cal  favoritism,  have  been  especially  oppres 
sive,  and  were  the  more  offensive  because 
made  obligatory.  Vessels  discharging  at 
San  Francisco  must  pay  dockage  in  pro 
portion  to  their  tonnage.  A  vessel  of  225 
tons  must  pay  $5  a  day  ;  one  of  550  tons 
$8.50  ;  one  of  1050  tons  $12.50,  and  one 
of  2100  tons  must  pay  $23.50  per  day. 
Whilst  loading,  receiving,  or  discharging 
ballast,  or  doing  nothing  after  discharging, 
the  vessel  must  pay  half  rates.  Every  load 
of  merchandise,  no  matter  how  small, 
hauled  to  the  ship,  must  pay  a  wharfage 
toll  of  ten  cents;  but  the  charge  is  five 
cents  per  ton  if  in  loads  of  two  or  more 
tons.  All  vessels  entering  or  leaving  the 
harbor  of  San  Francisco,  unless  on  a  fish 
ing  or  whaling  voyage,  or  engaged  in  trade 
between  American  ports,  must  pay  $5  per 
foot  of  draught;  and  if  the  vessel  be 
more  than  500  tons  4  cents  per  ton  ad 
ditional  when  she  takes  a  pilot,  and  if  she 
refuses  a  pilot  she  must  pay  half  pilotage 
charges  according  to  the  schedule  of 
charges.  The  pilotage  at  the  Columbia 
River  is  $8  per  foot  for  crossing  the  bar 
and  $4  additional  per  foot  for  taking  a 
vessel  to  Portland.  At  Victoria  the  pilot 
age  is  $3  per  foot.  Vessels  leaving  Hum- 
boldt  Bay  are  towed  out  and  pay  75  cents 
for  every  1000  feet  of  lumber  and  25  cents 
for  each  ton  of  merchandise.  The  charges 
are  the  same  for  Coos  Bay.  From  the 
foregoing  it  will  be  seen  that  much  damage 
must  necessarily  have  resulted  in  past 
years  by  these  exorbitant  charges. 

The  principal  part  of  the  ocean  traffic 
of  California  is  carried  on  by  lines  of  large 
ocean  steamers  belonging  to  great  trans 
portation  companies.  The  companies 
have  lines  plying  between  San  Francisco 
and  Asia,  Australia,  British  Columbia,  Pu- 
get  Sound,  Oregon,  the  Hawaiian  Islands, 
Panama,  Mexico,  and  the  Southern  Coast 


of  California.  The  Central  Pacific  Rail 
road  Co.,  the  Oregon  Improvement  Co., 
and  Dunsmuir,  Diggle  &  Co.  have  vast 
deposits  of  coal  in  Washington  Territory 
and  Vancouver  Island,  and  in  supplying 
San  Francisco  employ  steam  colliers  which 
compete  for  return  freights.  The  steam 
boat  is  destined  to  render  service  in  devel 
oping  the  wealth  of  the  remarkable  archi 
pelago  extending  north  from  latitude  48 
deg.  to  58  deg.,  with  3,000  miles  of  chan 
nel,  deep  and  wide  enough  for  safety,  and 
protected  from  the  roll  of  the  ocean  to 
such  an  extent  that  the  water  is  as  smooth 
as  the  Bay  of  San  Francisco. 

After  the  Pacific  Mail  Steamship  Com 
pany  the  next  great  line  of  ocean  steamers 
is  the  Occidental  and  Oriental  Steamship 
Company,  which  plies  between  San  Fran 
cisco  and  China.  This  company  runs  four 
fine  steamships — the  "  Oceanic  "  and  "  Ar 
abic,"  3,800  tons  each,  and  the  "  Belgic  " 
and  "Gaelic "  each  2,600  tons.  These 
vessels  run  to  Hong  Kong,  alternating  with 
the  vessels  of  the  Pacific  Mail  Company. 

The^ third  great  line  of  ocean  steamers 
is  the  Oceanic  Steamship  Company,  ply 
ing  between  Honolulu  and  San  Francisco. 
This  company  runs  the  magnificent  steam 
ships  "Mariposa"  and  "Alameda,"  each 
3,000  tons.  They  are  the  fastest  Ameri 
can  built  steamships  afloat,  and  the  Pacific 
Slope  may  well  be  proud  of  them.  The 
"  Mariposa  "  has  made  the  run  from  San 
Francisco  to  Honolulu  in  five  days,  twenty 
and  one-half  hours,  the  usual  time  occu 
pied  by  other  fast  steamers  being  seven 
days  or  more.  Both  these  vessels  are 
capable  of  steaming  at  the  rate  of  sixteen 
knots  an  hour  for  days  together. 

The  West  Coast  trade  is  chiefly  carried 
on  by  several  large  shipping  companies 
among  which  are  the  Oregon  Railway  and 
Navigation  Company  and  Pacific  Coast 
Steamship  Company.  The  former  com 
pany  runs  a  line  of  fine  steamers  to  Port 
land  and  Astoria,  and  the  latter  runs  steam 
ers  both  north  and  south  of  San  Fran 
cisco. 

The  great  magnitude  of  the  Pacific 
coast  grain  trade  will  perhaps  be  more  clear 
ly  understood  by  comparing  it  with  the 
cotton  trade  of  the  United  States.  The 
total  weight  of  domestic  exports  of  raw 
cotton  during  the  two  years,  from  July  ist> 
1882  to  June  3oth,  1884,  was  2,075,323 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA,  515 

tons.     The    total    weight    of    exports    of  about  two  thirds  of  the  vessels  engaged  in 

wheat  and  wheat    flour  from    the    Pacific  the  transportation  of  grain  to  Europe  sail 

coast  during  the  same  time  was   1,814.815  under  foreign  flags. 

tons.     From  this    it  appears  that  the  ex-  The  greater  part  of  the  grain  ships  are  iron 

ports  of  wheat  and  flour  from   the  Pacific  vessels  sailing  under  the  British  flag.  There 

Coast   alone  was    only  12.5   per    cent  less  have  been  many  attempts  made  to  under- 

than  the  tonnage  of  the  total  export  of  cot-  stand  the  reason  why  English  iron  ships  are 

ton  from    the  United    States  for  these  ten  preferred  bythe  insurance  companies  to  good 

years.  hardwood  American  ships.  Records  of  ship- 

The  merchant  marine  of  California  on  ping  show  beyond  dispute  that  the  American 

the  3oth  of  June,    1884,  consisted  of  875  wooden  ships   not  only  sail    faster,  but  as 

vessels  with  an  aggregate  tonnage  of  233,-  a    general    rule  suffer   less    disaster   than 

480  tons.     There  were  engaged  in  domes-  the  ships  of  any  other  nation.     It    is    not 

tic  commerce    683  vessels,    the  aggregate  improbable  that  the  reason  is  as    follows  : 

tonnage  of   which  amounted    to   116,074.  English    ships    are    consigned    to    agents, 

There  were  39  vessels  built    in  the    State  who  do  the  whole  of  the  ship's  business  ;  the 

during   the  fiscal    year  ending   June  3Oth,  captain  has  nothing  to  do  but  to  navigate 

1884,  the  tonnage  of  which  amounted  to  the    ship.     When  the  ship  arrives,  she  is 

6301  tons.     The  tonnage  built    consisted  received  by  an  English  clerk,  attended  to 

entirely  of  wooden  vessels.  by  an  English  company,  and  insured  by  an 

As  the  production  of  wheat  increased  on  English  firm.     The  result  is,   that    many 

the  Pacific  coast  it    drew  hither  a  numer-  ships    are  chartered  before  they  arrive  at 

ous  fleet  of  the  larger  class  of  sailing  ships  San  Francisco,  frequently  several  months 

which  pursue  a  random  occupation  on  the  before. 

ocean,  wherever  profitable  freights  may  be  On  the  other  hand,  American  ships  are 

had  at  the  ports  of  the  various  commercial  wholly  in  the  charge  of  the    captain,  who 

nations.   Many  of  these  ships  in  the  ordinary  acts  as  his  own  agent.     He    is    instructed 

course  of  their  wanderings,  circumnavigate  on  sailing  to  do  the  best  he  can  in  the  in- 

the  globe  about  once  a  year.     In  the  year  terests  of    his    employers.     The    English 

1882  the  grain  fleet  (as  these  vessels  are  companies,  who  have  agents    everywhere, 

called)  amounted  to  446  vessels  with  an  ag-  are  naturally  prejudiced  in   favor  of  their 

gregate  of  628,380  tons.     Of  this    entire  own  ships,  and  by  these  means  secure  the 

fleet  only  three  were  steamers,  all  the  rest  control  of  the  trade. 

were  sailing  vessels.  The  general  nature  There  are  other  thi  ngs,  too,  which  will 
and  business  of  these  ships  may  be  inferred  materially  act  in  preventing  the  revival  of 
from  the  following  facts  :  A  large  number  American  shipping.  Wheat  can  be  grown 
of  them  sail  from  Europe  to  this  Coast  in  India  for  one  fourth  the  cost  of  Ameri- 
with  cargoes  of  coal,  pig  iron,  tin  and  gen-  can  wheat,  and  it  is  now  being  grown, 
eral  merchandise ;  many  of  them  also  take  Wheat  is  being  grown  in  Australia  and 
cargoes  of  general  merchandise  from  Eng-  New  Zealand,  and  it  will  be  a  matter  of 
land  and  from  ports  in  continental  Europe  surprise,  if  natural  national  prejudice  will 
to  Australia  and  thence  bring  coal  to  San  not  in  time  veto  the  importation  into 
Francisco,  and  others  take  coal  or  general  Great  Britain  of  American  wheat,  when  it 
merchandise  from  ports  in  Great  Britian  to  can  be  supplied  from  its  own  colonies. 
Calcutta  and  Bombay  or  Hong  Kong  and  Wheat  can  never  be  produced  in  America 
thence  proceed  to  San  Francisco  with  light  as  cheaply  as  it  can  in  India.  The  corn- 
cargoes  or  in  ballast.  Many  American  petition  of  Indian  and  Australian  wheat  is 
ships  return  to  Atlantic  ports  of  the  United  now  being  felt,  and  one  would  not  be  far 
States  and  there  carry  railroad  iron ,  coal  wrong  in  asserting  that  last  year's  wheat 
and  general  merchandise  to  this  Coast,  crop  of  the  Pacific  coast  has  not  yet  been 
Under  our  navigation  laws  only  American  touched.  There  are  thousands  of  tons  of 
vessels  can  engage  in  trade  between  the  wheat  now  unable  to  find  a  foreign  mar- 
Atlantic  and  Pacific  ports  of  the  States,  it  ket,  lying  stored  in  California, 
being  regarded  as  a  branch  of  the  coast  There  are  a  few  other  things  in  connec- 
trade  of  the  country.  Notwithstanding  this  tion  with  the  decadence  of  American  ship- 
advantage  enjoyed  by  American  ships,  ping.  At  Astoria,  where  a  great  deal  of 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


wheat  is  exported,  the  bar  of  the  Colum 
bia  River  is  so  shallow  that  only  shallow 
draught  ships  are  able  to  load  a  full  cargo. 
From  the  annual  report  of  Charles  F. 
Powell,  captain  of  engineers  at  present  at 
work  on  the  improvments  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Columbia,  it  appears  that  there  is  only 
about  19  feet  of  water  on  the  bar  at  high 
tide,  where  at  least  26  is  required.  En 
glish  iron  ships  draw  less  water  than  Amer 
ican  ships,  and  are  consequently  better 
able  to  compete  for  the  trade  in  that  sec 
tion.  An  English  iron  ship,  as  a  rule, 
draws  about  20  or  21  feet,  when  an  Amer 
ican  vessel  of  the  same  size  draws  often  as 
much  as  26  feet.  It  is  ruinous  to  Ameri 
can  shipping  not  to  hasten  the  deepening 
of  this  bar,  which  it  seems  might  be  done 
at  no  very  great  cost.  Vessels  that  cannot 
take  in  their  full  cargo  inside  the  bar  are 
unable  to  do  so  outside,  on  account  of  the 
continual  rough  sea.  Thus  many  Ameri 
can  ships  are  obliged  to  leave  the  port  with 
several  hundred  tons  less  than  they  can 
carry. 

It  would  not  be  just  to  close  this  sketch 
without  mentioning  some  of  the  large  ship 
ping  firms  of  the  Pacific  slope. 

Goodall,  Perkins  &  Co  have  a  large  busi 
ness  at  No.  10  Market  Street.  This  firm  has 
the  Agency  for  the  Oregon  Railroad  and 
Navigation  Company,  and  the  Pacific 
Coast  Steamship  Navigation  Company. 
They  also  employ  a  number  of  steam  tugs 
on  the  Bay. 

George  C.  Perkins  of  the  above 
firm,  is  one  of  the  most  notable  ship 
owners  of  California.  He  was  born  in 
Maine,  August  23,  1839,  and  is  now  46 
years  of  age.  After  spending  six  years  at 
sea  as  a  cabin  boy,  he  arrived  in  Cali 
fornia  at  the  age  of  16,  and  after  working 
in  the  mines  and  suffering  from  sickness, 
he  obtained  employment  as  porter  in  a 
store  at  Oroville,  for  which  he  received 
a  salary  of  $60  per  month.  By  hard 
work,  combined  with  natural  ability,  he 
made  himself  so  useful  that  he  rose  to  the 
position  of  clerk.  But  he  did  not  stop 
there,  for  his  valuable  qualities  induced  his 
employer  to  make  him  a  partner  in  the 
business.  In  time  he  became  the  sole 
owner  of  the  establishment.  He  pushed 
the  business  and  gained  the  confidence  of 
everybody  ;  money  accumulated  and  busi 
ness  prospered  more  and  more.  He  was 


elected  to  the  Legislature,  and  shortly  af 
terwards  moved  to  San  Francisco  where 
he  became  a  member  of  the  leading  steam 
ship  company  of  the  city.  In  the  year 
1879  he  was  elected  to  the  responsible 
position  of  Governor  of  the  State.  The  Hon. 
George  C.  Perkins  is  one  of  those  men 
who,  by  economy,  industry,  tact,  integrity 
and  business  capacity,  has  raised  himself 
from  the  humblest  position  to  one  of  the 
highest  positions  in  man's  estate.  He  is 
universally  esteemed  and  respected,  and 
adds  one  more  name  to  the  long  list  of 
names  of  which  all  Americans  are  so  just 
ly  proud. 

Charles  Goodall,  the  partner  of  George 
C.  Perkins,  is  a  native  of  England 
He  had  a  common  school  education 
and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  went  to 
sea.  After  arriving  in  California  he  went 
to  the  mines.  He  next  established 
a  shipping  firm  in  San  Francisco, 
which  has  since  grown  to  be  one  of  the 
first  of  the  State.  He  was  elected  Harbor 
Master  in  1861-3  and  was  a  member  of 
the  State  Assembly  in  1870.  He  after 
wards  became  a  member  of  the  Senate  for 
Butte  county  and  the  acquaintance  of  Mr. 
Perkins  led  to  that  gentleman's  admission 
into  the  firm  as  a  member. 

G.  W.  McNear  is  extensively  en 
gaged  in  the  shipment  of  wheat  from  Cali 
fornia,  and  is  one  of  the  best  known  busi- 
ness  men  in  the  city.  During  the  five 
years  ending  June  30,  1882,  he  shipped 
more  wheat  than  anyone  else  on  the  Coast. 
During  that  period  he  sent  away  335  car 
goes.  The  great  wheat-shipping  depot  at 
Port  Costa  owes  its  existence  to  his  bold 
plans  and  judicious  investment.  He  has 
built  a  wharf  there  2,000  feet  long  with  a 
depth  of  water  from  twenty-five  to  thirty 
feet  and  warehouses  capable  of  hold 
ing  50,000  tons  of  grain.  Eight  ships  can 
load  at  once.  The  extra  expense  of  tow 
age  for  twenty-five  miles  is  compensated 
for  by  free  wharfage.  As  much  as  2,000 
tons  of  wheat  has  been  loaded  into  a  ship 
in  one  day  of  twelve  hours.  Mr.  G.  W. 
McNear  was  born  in  Maine,  in  1837,  and 
at  the  age  of  fifteen  went  to  sea.  At  the 
age  of  nineteen  he  took  command  of  a 
steamer  plying  between  New  Orleans  and 
Pascagoula  and  remained  in  that  position 
for  four  years.  In  1860  he  came  to  this 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


Coast  and  went  into  partnership  with  his 
brother,  John  A.  McNear. 

Although  Mr.  McNear  owns  the 
wharves  at  Port  Costa  he  offers  the  free 
use  of  them  to  all  shippers  at  reasonable 
rates  so  that  they  may  all  share  in  its  ad 
vantages. 

John  Rosenfeld  holds  a  prominent  po 
sition  among  the  shipping  men  of  this 
Coast.  He  came  to  the  State  in  1850  and 
started  raising  sheep.  He  afterwards  set 
tled  in  San  Francisco,  and  in  1856  took 
the  agency  for  the  Vancouver  Coal  and 
Land  Company  of  Nanaimo,  B.  C.  In 


1875  he  invested  largely  in  the  Pacific 
Coast  Steamship  Company  and  is  now 
Vice-President  of  it.  In  1880  he  suc 
ceeded  to  the  shipping  and  commission 
business  of  Leo.  Howes  &  Co.  Mr.  Ro- 
senfelt  now  owns  a  line  of  vessels  plying 
between  San  Francisco  and  New  York. 
These  are  only  a  very  few  of  the  many 
deserving  men  which  want  of  space  pre 
vents  us  from  mentioning.  The  San 
Franciscan  shipping  men  bear  a  name  for 
uprightness  and  are  respected  all  over  the 
world.  BON  GAULTIER. 


SONG  OF  THE  SHEA-OAK.* 

What  can  it  be, 

What  can  it  be, 

That  is  sad  in  the  spot  where  care  is  not, 
And  whispers  so  drear 
To  many  an  ear,  the  tale  of  an  unknown  woe? 

The  Shea-Oak  tree, 

The  Shea-Oak  tree, 

With  its  whispering  leaf  and  voice  of  grief, 
Seems  ever  to  weep 
In  agony  deep,  and  brood  o'er  a  wild  despair. 


When  the  gale  blows, 

When  the  gale  blows, 

And  the  shadows  of  night,  phantoms  invite, 
A  deep  stricken  wail 
Is  borne  with  the  gale  and  heard  'mid  the  howling  blast. 

The  twilight  grey, 

The  twilight  grey, 

And  the  soft  sighing  breeze,  and  rustling  trees, 
Bring  never  relief 
To  the  restless  sleep,  that  troubles  the  weird  Shea-Oak. 

The  sad  Shea-Oak, 

The  sad  Shea-Oak, 

To  the  forest's  green  glade  brings  tristful  shade, 
And  its  mournful  tone 
And  sorrow  unknown,  wakes  many  a  gruesome  thought. 

WALTER  E.  ADAMS. 

*The  Shea-Oak  is  a  tree  of  sombre  hue,  found  in  the  Australian  "  bush."  It  is  often  found  in  groves 
round  a  swamp  where  it  helps  to  add  to  the  dismalness  of  the  surroundings.  The  breeze  passing 
through  its  long,  dark-colored,  hair-like  leaves  produces  a  mournful,  wailing  sound. 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


THE  NATIONAL  GUARD  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


I. 

Few  of  the  fables  of  quaint  old  . 
are  more  familiar  than  that  of  the  "  Boar 
who  was  whetting  his  tusks  against  a 
tree,"  although  "there  was  neither  hunter 
nor  hound  in  sight,  nor  any  other  danger 
at  hand."  And  the  maxim  which  it 
teaches — "  In  time  of  peace,  prepare  for 
war  " — is  so  evidently  based  on  soundest 
wisdom,  that  probably  no  one  has  ever, 
when  brought  face  to  face  with  it,  had  the 
audacity  to  dispute  it.  Every  one  has 
laughed  at  the  absurdity  of  the  philosopher 
discovered  under  the  leaky  roof  of  his 
Arkansas  hut,  which  couldn't  be  mended 
when  it  was  raining,  and  didn't  need 
mending  when  it  was  dry  weather. 

But  people  are  quick  to  see  wisdom 
or  folly  in  others,  who  yet  fail  to  exercise 
the  same  keen  judgment  in  affairs  that 
concern  themselves  as  individuals  or  as  a 
nation.  There  is  no  political  institution 
of  merit  that  has  met  with  more  opposi 
tion,  ranging  from  the  covert  sneer  to  ac 
tive  hostility,  than  has  that  of  the  Militia 
in  our  own  country. 

Yet  those  who  thus  decry  members  of 
the  militia  as  "playing  at  war,"  or  as  a 
source  of  useless  expense  to  the  State, 
reason  precisely  as  did  the  Arkansas 
philosopher  in  dry  weather. 

Such  opponents,  it  is  almost  needless  to 
say,  have  never  been  found  among  our 
statesmen.  Instead,  we  find  Washington, 
at  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  recommend 
ing  :  "  The  adoption  of  a  proper  peace 
establishment  in  which  care  should  be 
taken  to  place  the  militia  throughout  the 
Union  on  a  regular,  uniform  and  efficient 
footing.  The  militia  of  this  country  must 
be  considered  as  the  palladium  of  our 
security,  and  our  first  effectual  resort  in 
case  of  hostility." 

And  again  and  again,  in  the  legacy  of 
counsel  which  he  has  left  to  the  Ameri 
can  people,  has  he  repeated  these  senti 
ments. 

That  remarkable  body  of  statesmen  who 
formulated  for  us  our  National  Constitu 
tion,  have  also  incorporated  in  it  a  lasting 
testimony  to  the  value  and  the  necessity  of 
a  citizen  soldiery.  To  this  may  be  added 
the  authority  of  our  earlier  Presidents, 


each  of  whom,  from  Washington  to  Jack 
son,  at  various  times,  publicly  upheld  the 
establishment  of  militia  as  a  safe-guard  of 
public  security. 

Perhaps  the  consideration  that  weighed 
the  most  with  these  men  was  their  distrust 
and  fear  of  standing  armies,  as  being  a 
menace  to  the  free  government  which 
they  had  done  so  much  to  form.  Said 
Jefferson:  "None  but  an  armed  nation 
can  dispense  with  a  standing  army." 

This  is,  indeed,  its  best  characteristic, 
that  in  the  words  of  Thos.  Cazneau, 
"  The  National  Guard  are  of  the  com 
munity  whose  interests  they  aim  to  up 
hold."  Yet  it  is  perhaps  on  this  very  ac 
count  that  the  enemies  of  the  institution 
have  oftenest  attacked  it.  They  have 
cited  instances  again  and  again  where  the 
militia,  instead  of  firing  on  the  men, 
women  and  children  whom  the  authorities 
have  attempted  to  disperse,  have  even 
joined  them,  arms  and  all. 

Thus  Governor  Johnson,  in  1856,  in 
his  report  concerning  the  "Vigilance 
troubles,"  says  : 

"The  military  organized  under  the 
authority  of  the  State,  with  a  few  noble 
exceptions,  ingloriously  deserted  the  post 
of  honor  and  duty  ;  and  either  abandoned 
their  arms  to  the  State,  or  yet  less  honor- 
ably  carried  them  into  the  ranks  of  the 
Vigilance  Committee.  *  *  *  In  vain 
the  authority  of  the  Sheriff  was  strenuously 
exercised  to  protect  the  jail ;  his  orders 
were  disregarded  and  defiance  hurled  in 
his  face  by  those  summoned  to  the  duty." 

But  such  condemnation  has  not  been 
the  verdict  of  the  people.  It  is  for  this 
righteous  disobedience  by  the  militia  of 
that  day,  composed  as  it  was  of  the  very 
best  citizens  of  San  Francisco,  that  we 
honor  them — for  this  refusal  to  uphold  an 
iniquitous  and  fraudulent  administration  of 
injustice  that  we  indorse  them.  It  was  pre 
cisely  for  this  characteristic  that  they  were 
organized.  Our  statesmen  saw,  that  being 
of  the  people,  the  National  Guard  could 
not,  as  can  a  standing  army,  be  made  the 
tool  of  tyranny  or  fraud. 

And  so,  I  think,  it  will  be  generally 
found  that  cases  of  disobedience  of  militia 
in  times  of  disturbance  result  from  a  con- 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA.  519 

sciousness  that  the  position  of  the  govern-  be  made  to  what  will  be  treated  in  more 
ment  is  wrong,  and  not  from  cowardice  or  detail  further  on ;  to  the  early  Indian 
inefficiency.  On  the  contrary  the  militia  troubles,  beginning  with  the  Gila  campaign; 
has,  when  properly  organized,  as  a  rule,  to  the  squatter  riots  of  1850;  the  rescue 
tendered  brave  and  effective  service  to  a  of  Berdue  from  a  mistaken  mob ;  the 
righteous  government.  protection  of  emigrant  trains  on  the  north 

They  quelled  the  " whisky  rebellion  "  in  frontier;  the  Klamath  war;  the  bloody 
Pennsylvania — an  outbreak  that  seriously  Indian  campaign  of  1859;  the  aid  to  Ne- 
threatened  our  weakened  government ;  vada  after  the  Carson  river  massacre;  the 
they  fought  Indians  at  heavy  odds,  and  important  part  of  the  Calitornia  regiments 
they  furnished  the  cause  of  freedom  a  furnished  by  the  militia  during  the  rebel- 
basis  for  the  armies  which  reunited  the  lion ;  the  squatter  troubles  in  Sonoma 
nation.  And  it  may  be  remarked  that  in  county  in  1862  ;  the  Amador  mine  diffi- 
proportion  as  the  States  enjoyed  an  effect-  culties,  in  which  the  property  saved  by 
ive  militia  system,  they  furnished  quickly  the  National  Guard  could  have  paid  for 
and  easily  the  troops  called  for  by  Lincoln  the  expenses  of  the  regiment  to  the  State 
at  the  outbreak  of  the  civil  war.  many  times  over;  the  guard  duty  during 

Major  General  N.  P.  Banks  said  :  the  San  Quentin  fire,  and  at  the  Stockton 

"Massachusetts  could  never  have  done  what  Jail  '>  the   preventive   services    of  the  city 

she  did  without  long  preparation— preparation  in  regiments    during    the     labor    troubles    of 

time  of  peace;  preparation  at  a  moment  when  none  1876-7  ;  the   moral  effect  of  their  appear- 

supposed   there   was  to-be  war;  when  the  great  ance    under    arms  during    the    excitement 

mass  of  the  people  were  wild  enough  to  believe  ..  „       .  ,         .          "_„...  ... 

that  a  war  anywhere  that  could  entangle  us  in  its  following  the  shooting  of  Kalloch  ;  a  like 
meshes  was  impossible  ;  preparation  made  when  service  at  Sacramento  in  1882;  and,  final- 
everything  connected  with  the  military  name  and  ly,  ]ast  year,  the  services  of  the  Stockton 
organization  and  military  spirit  was  looked  upon  companies  in  aid  of  writs  upon  the  Mo- 
as  the  spirit  of  dissipation,  to  be  discouraged  and  TV/I-  i  i 
discountenanced,  and  not  regarded  as  part  of  the  quelumnes  grant  settlers.  More  than  these 
conduct  or  duty  of  an  honorable  or  reputable  actual  services  performed,  is  the  influence 
man."  for  the  prevention  of  disturbance  which 
And  as  an  example  of  what  a  single  the  knowledge  of  a  disciplined  body  of 
militia  regiment  did  in  those  times,  may  troops  is  perpetually,  though  silently  ex- 
be  instanced  the  New  York  Seventh,  which  erting  upon  the  lawless.  This,  General 
furnished  six  hundred  and  six  officers  who  Sherman  referred  to,  when  in  his  Palace 
served  with  distinction  through  the  war.  Hotel  speech  to  members  of  the  National 
Among  the  number  were  three  major-gen-  Guard,  he  said  : 
erals,  nineteen  brigadier-generals,  twenty-  "  Especially  in  these  United  States 

nine  colonels,  and  forty-six  lieutenant-  col-  ™  shoukl  *\ave  some  volunteer  soldiers.    * 

i  There  should  be  volunteers  in  every  city  that    has 

a  large  population  floating  and  sometimes    unem- 

Flfty-eight  members    gave  their  lives   in  ployed.  Be  ready  for   any   duty    that 

defence  of  the  Union,  of  which  the  monu-  may  come.     If  you  are  prepared,  the  day   won't 

ment  in  Central  Park  testifies.  Come5  hut  if  vou  are  not  h  mav  come-" 

And  to  come  to  the  examples  which  our        That  the  value  of  these  services  has,  to 

own  National  Guard  of  California  has  fur-  some  extent,  been  appreciated  by  the  citi- 

nished    in  defence  of  the  system  by  virtue  zens  is  evidenced  by  a  fact  casually  stated 

of  which  it  exists,  the  list  is  too  long  to  be  by  Adjutant-General  Backus  in  his  report 

given  here  in  detail.     For  the  isolation  of  for  1880,  where  he  mentions  that    a    citi- 

California,  especially  before  the  era  of  rail-  zens'  committee  in  San  Francisco,  in  view 

roads,  its  proximity  to  hostile  Indian  tribes,  of  threatened  disturbance,   collected   and 

and  often    scarcely  less    hostile    white  na-  expended  some  $40,000  in  procuring  uni- 

tions,    the    circumstances    under   which  it  forms  and  equipments  for  the  thousand  or 

was  settled,  and  the    cosmopolitan  and  ad-  more  who  then  joined  the  National  Guard 

venturous    nature  of  its  immigration  even  of  San  Francisco.     The  influence  of  this 

to-day,  all  combined  to  give  constant  rise  to  donation    was  immediately    and    sensibly 

events,  which  imperatively  call  for  the  use  felt    throughout    the    State    in  increased 

of  an  armed    force,  for    defence    or  in  aid  membership  in  the  National  Guard, 
of  law   and  order.     Reference    only  need        The  six  brigades  of  young  men  now   in 


520  THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 

the  State,  it  will  thus  be  seen,  are  not  or-  land,  with  such  gradual  and  for  the  most 
ganized  for  mere  pastime  or  ornamental  part  unimportant  changes,  as  the  chang- 
appearance  on  parade.  It  is  true  that  ing  conditions  of  the  nation  itself  called  for, 
even  in  actual  service  their  duties  rarely  until  the  present  day.  And  when  it  is  re- 
have  the  exciting  character  that  attach  membered  that  our  own  constitutions 
to  regulars  in  war  times  ;  that  they  are  model  our  militia  system  in  almost  every 
•often  called  upon  for  guard  duty  only  ;  detail,  after  the  English  pattern,  the  in- 
or  to  face  unruly  and  insulting  crowds  fluence  of  these  early  institutions  on  our 
without  firing.  These  are  the  most  dis-  own  wrill  be  easily  recognized.  To  cite  a 
tasteful  of  duties,  but  they  are  performed  single  instance,  there  has  been  in  England 
as  faithfully,  unshrinkingly,  and  with  as  since  the  time  of  Edward  III.,  a  statute 
true  a  patriotism  as  if  that  performance  that  no  militiaman  shall  be  summoned  from 
were  attended  with  all  the  glory  of  active  his  county  save  in  time  of  war  or  im mi- 
strife.  In  quiet  times  like  these,  as  they  nent  danger  of  invasion,  and  in  no  instance 
meet  from  week  to  week  in  their  armories,  can  he  be  sent  outside  the  realm, 
they  vary  the  monotonous  routine  of  drills  This  provision,  as  is  well  known,  is  par- 
with  an  entertainment  or  ball.  They  fit  alleled  in  our  own  militia  system,  in  which 
their  armories  with  the  comforts  of  a  club  the  State  corresponds  to  a  certain  extent, 
and  make  them  places  of  social  enjoyment,  to  the  English  county. 
But  should  these  "piping  times  of  peace  " 
give  way  to  war,  the  California  National 

Guardsman  will  be  found  ready  to  do  his  jn  the  American  colonial  days  we   had 

part,  as  brave  as  any  other  American,  and  substantially  the  English    organization    of 

ten  times  better  prepared  than  he  who  be-  the  militia.     In  revolutionary   times,  this 

longs  only  to  the  "enrolled  militia."  body  of  soldiery,  unlike  that  of  a  standing 

jj  army,  sided  with  the  colonies,  for  then,  as 

now,  they  wrere  "of  the  community  whose 

In  England,  in  the  time  of  the  Saxons,  interests  they  aim  to  uphold." 

the    ceorles  or  peasants  held  lands  under  And  while  they  rendered  important  ser- 

condition  of  military  service.     They  were  vice,    their  occasional  failures  which  have 

.  banded  in  bodies  of  which  the  command  been  recorded  are  due  only   to   defective 

was    given    to   the  ealdormen    (aldermen)  training,    a    matter   which    the    National 

elected    by    the  people  in   the  folk-motes  Guard,  as  organized  to-day,  is  designed  to  < 

(folk-meetings).     In    time    of  war,    these  avoid. 

bodies  were  united  under  the  leadership  of  The    actual   estimate   which   our   fore- 

the  lords,  who,  however,  exerted  no  other  fathers  formed  of  the  militia  may,  however, 

authority  over  them  than  the  temporary  one  be  best  inferred  from  these  provisions  which 

of  leading  them  in  the  fight— in  the  main,  they  incorporated  in  the  National   Consti- 

these  citizen  soldiers  were  directly  respon-  tution. 

sible  to  themselves  and  to  their  king.  The  secOnd  amendment  asserts  that  "  A 

Although  this  system  has  been  attributed  wdl  regulated  militia,  being  necessary   to 

to   the  wise   and  good    King  Alfred,   yet  the  security  of  a  free  state,  the  right  of  the 

traces    of  it   have  been   found  in  earlier  people  to  keep  and  bear  arms  shall  not  be 

times  than  his.  infringed." 

The  Norman  conquest    introduced  the  The  framers  did  not  indeed  incorporate 

feudal  system  of  land  tenure.     The  con-  in  the  body  of  the  constitution  this  and  the 

queror   divided    his    territory    among    his  other  declarations  of  rights  which  compose 

barons,  requiring  each  in  return,  to  furnish  the  first  installment  of  constitutional  amend- 

a  certain  number  of  troops  in  time  of  war.  mentSj  believing  that  such  truths  "go  with- 

These  barons  distributed  their  territory  on  out  saymg  » 

like  terms  to  their    knights   who  in  turn,  '       ^       fct    ^   afterward    to 

let  their  allotments  out  to  the  peasants  on  assurance  doSbly  sure,    and   secure 
condition  of  a  legriance.     It  will  easily  be 

,             .  .                    .                     }   ,  ,  those  rights  by  express  provisions, 
seen  now  quickly  and  surely  an  army  could 

thus  be  raised  in  an  emergency.  In  the  Constitution  itself,    Congress    is 

This  system  has  been  continued  in  Eng-  entrusted  with  the  power  : 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


521 


To  provide  for  calling  forth  the  militia  to  exe 
cute  the  laws  of  the  Union,  suppress  insurrections 
and  repel  invasions. 

To  provide  for  organizing,  arming  and  disciplin 
ing  the  militia,  and  for  governing  such  part  of 
them  as  may  be  employed  in  the  service  of  the 
United  States,  reserving  to  the  States  respectively, 
the  appointment  of  the  officers  and  the  authority  of 
training  the  militia  according  to  the  discipline 
prescribed  by  Congress. 

And  the  troops  are  herein  provided  with 
a  leader  (Art.  u)  : 

The  President  shall  be  Commander-in-chief  of 
the  Army  and  Navy  of  the  United  States,  and  of 
the  militia  of  the  several  States  when  called  into 
the  actual  service  of  the  United  States. 

In  the  earlier  part  of  our  National  exist 
ence,  the  relation  of  the  militia  to  the 
State  and  to  the  Nation  was  very  imper 
fectly  understood,  and  frequent  disputes 
arose  between  the  State  and  the  National 
authorities  on  that  account.  Governors  of 
States  often  claimed  the  right  to  decide 
finally  as  to  the  necessitv  for  calling  out 
the  militia,  even  after  receiving  such  call 
from  the  National  Executive. 

In  accordance  with  the  general  tenden 
cies,  these,  as  most  similar  questions,  have 
been  finally  resolved  in  favor  of  the  general 
government. 

At  first  the  State  militia  systems  were 
very  inadequate.  They  were  principally 
based  on  a  provision  for  an  annual  drill, 
on  a  day  universally  known  as  "training 
day." 

The  enrolled  militia  were  summoned, 
and  a  part  responded.  In  country  dis 
tricts  it  was  a  gala  day.  The  Brigadier- 
General  appeared  in  state.  The  maneu 
vers  were  ordered,  as  slowly  read  or 
spelled,  from  the  book.  The  wearisome 
ordeal  being  over  at  last,  the  warriors  gladly 
adjourned  to  some  public  house. 

The  opinion  gradually  became  prevalent 
that  all  this  was  useless.  "Training  day" 
became  a  stock  joke  for  the  humorists. 
The  final  blow  was  given  in  Congress  in 
1846.  General  Crary,  of  the  Michigan 
militia,  criticised  General  Harrison's  con 
duct  at  Tippecanoe. 

The  inimitable  Tom  Corwin  deliciously 
replied.  His  irresistible  description  of 
"training  day  "convulsed  the  House. 
The  unfortunate  Brigadier  was  referred  to, 
on  the  following  day,  as  "  the  late  General 
Crary."  And  just  as  chivalry  received  its 
final  blow  from  Cervantes'  "  Don  Quixote," 
so  "training  day"  vanished  amid  the 


laughter  of  the  Nation  over  Corwin's  witty 
address. 

With  that  time  may  be  said  to  have 
dawned  a  new  era  in  the  militia  system, 
that  of  permanently  organized  volunteer 
companies.  It  needs  no  explanation  to 
show  its  advantages  over  the  old  system. 

It  was  in  this  era  that  the  first  California, 
Constitution  was  adopted. 

It  provides  :     (Article  VII.) 

1.  The  Legislature   shall   provide  by   law  for 
organizing  and  disciplining   the    militia    in    such 
manner  as  they  shall  deem  expedient,  not  incom 
patible  with   the    Constitution   and   laws  of  the 
United  States. 

2.  Officers  of  the  militia   shall  be   elected  or 
appointed  in  such  manner  as  the  Legislature  shall 
from  time    to  time  direct,  and    shall  be    commis 
sioned  by  the  Governor. 

3.  The  Governor  shall  have  power  to  call  forth 
the   militia    to  execute  [the    laws  of   the  State,  to 
suppress  insurrections,  and  repel  invasions. 

From  a  comparison  of  this  with  what 
has  already  been  quoted  from  the  United 
States  Constitution,  it  will  be  seen  that 
the  status  of  the  militia  man,  is  that  of  a 
citizen-soldier.  His  connection  with  an 
organized  company,  while  it  intensifies, 
does  not  substantially  alter  his  duties  and 
relations  to  the  State  and  to  the  Nation. 
He  is  subject  to  the  call  of  the  Governor 
for  State  duty ;  his  arms,  accoutrements 
and  training  are  furnished  by  the  State  di 
rectly,  and  in  part  by  the  Nation  indirectly. 

But  on  the  call  of  the  Nation,  the  Gov 
ernor,  under  certain  limitations,  is  obliged 
to  assemble  the  troops  and  place  them 
under  the  direction  of  the  Nation. 

IV. 

In  accordance  with  the  State  Constitu 
tion,  the  first  act,  organizing  the  Militia  of 
California,  was  passed  April  10,  1850. 

It  established  an  enrolled  militia  of  all 
free,  white,  able-bodied  male  citizens  from 
the  age  of  18  to  45,  not  otherwise  ex 
empt. 

From  this  list  it  exempted  all  officers  or 
members  of  volunteer  or  independent  com 
panies  within  the  State. 

These  companies  were  organized  in  four 
divisions,  each  officered  by  a  Major-General, 
and  eight  brigades  commanded  by  Brig 
adier-Generals.  The  territory  of  these 
divisions  extended  in  four  belts  across  the 
State,  east  and  west. 

The  office  of  Adjutant-General  and 
Quartermaster-General  was  established. 


522  THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 

The  enrolled    militia  could  avoid    per-       This  requirement  of  a  weekly  drill    was 

formance  of  military  duty  by  a  commuta-  by  1872,  extended  to  include    the    Sacra- 

tion  tax  of  two  dollars  annually,   paid  in-  mento  companies,  and  in  1878,  was  further 

to  the  Military  Fund.  extended  to  Oakland,    Vallejo,    San  Jose 

The  immediate  officers  of  the  voluntary  and  Los  Angeles, 
organizations  were  elective.  The  same    act    of   1863   accorded    the 

Thus,  at  the  outset  of  the  State  history,  privilege  of  exemption  to  members  who 
the  militia  were  divided  into  the  two  class-  had  served  seven  years — a  privilege  of 
es  of  volunteer  organizations,  and  an  enrolled  which  many  have  since  availed  themselves, 
militia,  paying  an  annual  tax  in  lieu  of  mili-  The  next  important  law  affecting  the 
tary  duty.  This  tax  is  in  no  way  to  be  militia  organization  was  passed  April  2, 
confounded  with  a  poll  tax.  1866.  It  cut  down  the  number  of  corn- 
It  has  since  varied  from  as  low  as  twen-  panics  which  had,  under  the  quickening 
ty-five  cents  to  as  high  as  two  dollars  per  influence  of  civil  war,  grown  inordinately 
year.  large.  It  assigned  to  the  organized  militia 

This  exemption  of  members  of  volunteer  the  name    NATIONAL    GUARD.     And    the 

companies  from    this  tax  was  followed    in  unity  of  this  organization  was  still  further 

1851  by  an  act  exempting -them  also  from  strengthened  by  the  adoption  of  a  uniform 

jury  duty.  of  a  dark  blue  frock  coat    and   light    blue 

This  was  afterward  repealed,  but  was  re-  pants.     Heretofore  companies  had   select- 
stored  a  few  years  ago.  ed  their  own    uniforms,    whose    color   in 

In  1852,    there  were  established    seven  many  cases  determined  the    name    of  the 

military  districts.     Each    county  was  au-  company. 

thorized  to  organize  one  or  more  independ-       In  1870  and  187  2,  an  additional  branch  of 

ant  companies.     The  State  furnished    the  the  service  was  organized.  The  act  of  1870 

arms    and    equipments.     The     office     of  authorized  the  formation  of  a  cadet  battalion 

Quartermaster-General   was    merged    into  at  the  University  of  California,  and  this  as 

that  of  Adjutant-General,  which  William  C.  amended  in  1872,  was  made  to  apply  to  any 

Kibbe  held  from  this  time  on  until    1864.  collegiate  institution  in  the  State.     The  in- 

From  year  to  year,  the  volunteer    com-  structor  of  any  such  department  was  given 

panics  were  rendered  less  and    less    inde-  the  rank  of  Major  in  the  National  Guard, 

pendent,  and  the   system    was    more    and  In  this  connection  it  may  be  well  to  ob- 

more    consolidated    and    centralized.     In  serve  that  in  accordance  with  the   first  of  % 

1855,  an  act  was  passed  ordering  a  parade  these  acts,    a  battalion  of  cadets  was  or- 

of  the  companies  twice  a  year.     An  act  of  ganized  at  the  University  of  California,  in 

1862    still    further    developed     the     sys-  the    fall   term  of    1870.     It    consisted  of 

tern.     The  war  was  diffusing  new  ideas  of  four  companies,  lettered  from  A  to  D,  and 

the  value  of  the  militia  and  the  expedience  within  a  year  had  a  hundred  and  twenty 

of  a  compact  organization.  members.     The  arms  and  equipments  were 

The  many-headed  system    of  manifold  furnished  by   the  State,  and  we   find  the 

divisions  was  replaced  by  the    present  or-  colonel  (Frank  Soule,  Jr.,)  recommending 

ganization  into  a  single  division  consisting  the  substitution  of  light  breech  loaders  as 

of  six  brigades.     The  important  provision  more  suitable  to  the  size  and  age  of  the 

was  made  that  each  company  was   to   be  cadets. 

known  by  a  particular  letter  or  number  of       In  1867,  the  U.  S.  Government  adopted 

its  regiment.     No  one  was  allowed  to  be  a  Upton's   tactics,    and    the    year    following 

member  of  more  than  one  company    at  a  California  did  the  same,  thus  making  pos- 

time.     Thus  the  volunteer  companies  were  sible    the    harmonious    drilling  of   all  the 

deprived  of  their    independent    character,  troops  in  a  body. 

and,  for  the  first  time,  the  State  militia  as-        In   1874,  a  movement  was  on    foot  to 

sumed  the  form  of  a  little  army.  disband    the    National    Guard.     But    the 

In  1863,  the    lines    of  discipline    were  chairman   of  the    Legislative    Committee 

drawn  more  tightly.     Parades  were  ordered  made  a  report  strongly  favorable  both  as  to 

four  times  a  year,  monthly  drills  were    re-  the  condition  of  the  National  Guard,  and 

quired,  and  the  San  Francisco  companies  as  to  the  necessity  of  its  existence,  and  the 

were  compelled  to  drill  weekly.  threatened  dissolution  was  averted. 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


523 


The  adoption  of  the  New  Constitution 
of  1879  did  not  materially  affect  the 
National  Guard.  The  old  constitutional 
provisions,  in  this  respect,  were  retained. 
In  addition  is  an  affirmation  of  the  sub 
ordination  of  the  military  to  the  civil 
power,  and  a  prohibition  of  the  carrying  of 
any  other  flag  in  National  Guard  parades, 
than  that  of  the  United  States  or  Califor 
nia.  It  secures  the  National  Guardsman 
from  imprisonment  for  a  militia  fine  in 
time  of  peace,  and  all  electors  from  militia 
duty  during  attendance  at  an  election. 

In  April  1880,  any  Colonel  of  a  regi 
ment  was  authorized  to  organize  a  cadet 
company,  and  prescribe  the  ages  of  eligible 
members.  These  members  were  required 
after  they  became  eighteen,  and  before 
they  reached  the  age  of  twenty-one,  to  join 
some  company  of  the  National  Guard  for 
at  least  one  term  of  enlistment.  The 
Colonel  was  made  instructor  of  his  cadet 
company.  These  companies  were  to  re 
ceive  one-third  the  State  allowances  to 
other  companies  of  the  regiment. 

On  March  4,  1881,  the  Legislature  en 
acted  that  commissioned  officers  djsabled 
and  rendered  incapable  of  service,  or 
having  served  continuously  for  eight  years 
may  be  retired,  ranking  next  to  officers 
of  like  rank  on  the  active  list. 

In  March  of  this  year  a  provision  was 
made  allowing  each  company  to  have  as 
many  as  ten  honorary  members  who  shall 
pay  fifty  dollars  per  annum  into  the  com 
pany  treasury,  and  shall  thereupon  be  en 
titled  to  all  the  exemptions  to  which  men 
on  the  active  list  are  entitled. 

Such  is  an  ontline  of  the  development 
of  the  present  militia  system  of  California. 
The  enactments  made  from  time  to  time 
have  been  in  part  an  effect,  and  in  part  a 
cause,  of  the  varying  condition  of  the 
National  Guard.  They  have,  however, 
been  oftenest  a  cause,  and  for  this  reason 
have  been  narrated  first. 
V. 

The  history  of  the  National  Guard  of 
California  as  an  effective  body  of  men, 
has  been  far  more  varied  than  that  of  the 
average  and  peaceful  State. 

There  was  first  a  period  of  lawlessness 
in  the  State  during  the  "  good  old 
days  of  '49,"  and,  for  a  few  years  after, 
this  was  complicated  by  frequent  troubles 
with  the  Indians. 


Then  after  a  short  period  of  compara 
tive  quiet  came  the  Civil  War,  and  the 
tremendous  impulse  that  it  gave  to  all 
matters  military. 

During  all  this  time  California  was  in  an 
isolated  condition,  and  left  more  or  less 
by  the  Nation  to  attend  to  her  own  affairs. 

Following  the  war  was  a  period  of 
apathy  in  military  matters.  But  the  com 
pletion  of  a  transcontinental  line  of  rail 
way  brought  a  new  tide  of  immigration. 
California  thus  collected  not  only  valuable 
citizens,  but  also  a  large  amount  of  drift 
from  the  class  that  floats  about  in  the 
West.  This  cosmopolitan  and  unstable 
element  during  periods  of  trade  depression, 
gave  the  National  Guard,  particularly  of 
San  Francisco,  plenty  to  do.  It  is  to  be 
feared  that  this  period  yet  continues,  al 
though  all  upon  the  surface  is  serene. 
The  earliest  military  companies  were 
independent  of  the  authorities. 

A  gang  of  desperadoes  in  the  early 
days  of  our  city's  history,  known  as  the 
"Hounds,"  whose  outrageous  operations 
had  made  life  and  property  insecure,  led 
to  the  organization  of  the  first  militia  com 
pany,  which  was  known  as  the  First  Cali 
fornia  Guard.  It  was  an  artillery  corps, 
but  also  drilled  with  muskets,  and  in  the 
evolutions  of  infantry.  It  was  after  the 
expulsion  of  the  notorious  "  Hounds," 
and  when  the  excitement,  which  they 
created,  had  in  a  measure  subsided,  that 
some  of  the  most  prominent  citizens,  dread 
ing  a  recurrence  of  like  scenes,  conceived 
the  idea  of  the  organization  of  the  com 
pany  mentioned  above  to  aid  the  legal 
officers  in  the  maintenance  of  order. 
The  suggestion  met  with  ready  acquies 
cence,  and  in  the  early  part  of  July,  1849, 
several  preliminary  meetings  were  held  in 
the  "Institute,"  as  the  school-house  on 
the  plaza  was  called,  for  the  purpose  of  ef 
fecting  said  organization.  On  the  2yth  of 
the  month,  forty-one  gentlemen  signed  the 
following  preamble  : 

We,  the  undersigned,  do  hereby  form  ourselves 
into  an  association  under  the  name  and  style  ot 
the  First  California  Guard,  and  for  the  good  gov 
ernment  thereof  have  adopted  a  Constitution  and 
by-laws,  for  the  support  of  which  we  mutually 
pledge  ourselves. 

Among  the  signatures  are  those  of  the 
following  well-known  gentlemen  :  H.  M. 
Naglee,  W.  D.  M.  Howard,  E.  L.  Sulli 
van,  Alexander  G.  Abell,  W.  H.  Tilling- 


524 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


hast,  Hall  McAllister,  H.  E.  Teschemacker, 
and  John  Sime. 

The  officers  elected  were,  Henry  M. 
Naglee,  Captain  ;  W.  D.  M.  Howard 
and  Myron  Norton,  First  Lieutenants; 
Hall  McAllister  and  David  T.  Bagley, 
Second  Lieutenants  ;  Richard  H.  Linton, 
Orderly  Sergeant ;  and  Dr.  S.  R.  Gerry, 
Surgeon. 

To  provide  an  armory,  certain  members 
of  the  Guard  organized  a  joint  stock  com 
pany,  purchased  a  lot,  and  erected  a 
building  on  the  northeast  corner  of  Dupont 
and  Jackson  Sts.  This  was  ready  for  oc 
cupation  in  the  fall  of  1849. 

On  the  following  22d  of  February,  they 
held  their  first  military  entertainment — a 
very  elaborate  affair. 

This  armory  was  burned  in  September 
of  that  year,  and  the  building,  with  which 
the  company  replaced  it,  suffered  a  simi 
lar  fate  in  1851. 

The  membership  of  the  California 
Guard  was  of  a  high  order,  comprising 
many  of  the  most  prominent  men  of  the 
city,  and  its  esprit  de  corps  was  well  sus 
tained  by  accessions  of  men,  who  had 
seen  service  in  the  Mexican  war. 

About  this  time,  there  were  several 
other  companies  of  a  more  or  less  tem 
porary  nature,  organized  in  many  instances 
to  meet  special  exigencies  of  service. 

The  next  organization  of  note,  however, 
was  the  Marion  Rifle  Corps,  which  dates 
from  the  i/j.th  of  May,  1852.  The  offi 
cers  were  T.  B.  Schaelffer,  Capt.  ;  G.  T. 
Davidson,  First  Lieutenant  ;  J.  W.  Rider 
and  W.  W.  Hawks,  Second  Lieutenants  ; 
and  W.  Neely  Johnson,  First  Sergeant. 

Soon  afterward  the  Eureka  Light  Horse 
Guards  and  the  National  Lancers,  cavalry 
companies,  and  the  San  Francisco  Blues, 
an  infantry  company,  were  formed. 

These  five  companies,  and  the  Sutter 
Rifles  of  Sacramento,  were  organized  July 
4,  1853,  into  a  battalion.  On  this  occasion 
they  were  received  by  Major-General  John 
Sutter,  and  presented  with  an  ensign  by 
Mrs.  Catherine  N.  Sinclair. 

In  August  1850,  their  services  were  first 
called  for,  to  suppress  the  Squatter  Riots. 
As  Gen.  A.  M.  Winn  of  the  Second  Brig 
ade,  First  Division,  California  Volunteers 
had  been  ordered  to  the  scene,  Captain 
Howard,  then  commanding  the  California 
Guards,  was  applied  to  for  the  loan  of  the 


company  arms  to  the  authorities ;  but  the 
company  decided  to  bear  them  in  person. 
Together  with  the  Protection  Fire  Com 
pany  all  under  command  of  Colonel  Geary, 
they  repaired  to  Sacramento.  Their 
actual  services  were,  however,  not  needed 
and  after  complimentary  resolutions  from 
the  civil  and  military  authorities  at  Sacra 
mento,  they  returned.  In  the  early  part  of 
the  same  year,  an  Indian  attack  had  been 
made  at  the  junction  of  the  Gila  and  Col 
orado  rivers.  In  October,  Indian  depre 
dations  were  committed  in  Eldorado  Coun 
ty.  In  both  these  cases,  the  Sheriffs  of  the 
nearest  counties  raised  emergency  compa 
nies  who  succeeded  in  thoroughly  punish 
ing  the  Indians. 

In  1851,  there  were  various  Indian 
troubles,  quelled,  as  was  usual  in  those 
days,  by  local  companies  temporarily  or 
ganized. 

The  Washington  Guard  performed  a 
valuable  service  at  that  time  for  a  man 
Called  Stuart  or  Berdue.  They  protected 
him  from  a  mob  who  were  trying  to  lynch 
him,  as  the  alleged  murderer  of  a  merchant 
named  Jansen.  It  was  afterward  learned 
that  Berdue  was  not  the  man  that  the  mob 
supposed  he  was.  He  escaped  to  furnish 
a  remarkable  instance  of  the  mistakes 
which  mobs,  and  even  courts,  are  liable  to 
make. 

In  1852,  the  only  services  required  of 
the  militia,  were  the  protection  of  emigrant 
trains  in  the  northeast.  This  duty  was 
performed  by  the  Fitzgerald  Volunteers 
and  by  the  Volunteer  Rangers. 

The  worst  element  of  San  Francisco, 
had,  in  1856,  by  virtue  of  fraud,  intimi 
dation,  and  the  like  means,  obtained  con 
trol  of  the  city  government  in  all  its 
branches.  The  worst  crimes  went  unpun 
ished,  and  murders  and  all  violence 
increased  alarmingly.  James  King  of 
William,  editor  of  the  Evening  Bulletin , 
was  particularly  bold  in  his  denunciation 
of  the  corruptionists.  He  finally  offended 
Jas.  P.  Casey,  of  the  Sunday  Times,  who 
met  Mr.  King  on  May  i4th,  and  mur 
dered  him.  Fearing  that  Casey's  trial 
would  result  as  trials  usually  resulted  at 
that  time,  a  mob  gathered  about  the  jail 
and  an  assault  was  freely  threatened.  The 
only  guard  mustered  to  defend  the  jail  was 
of  about  twenty  men  commanded  by  Lieu 
tenant  Reese. 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


525 


There  was  at  that  time  an  organized 
mounted  battalion  under  Major  Rowell, 
consisting  of  the  California  Guards  (Lieut. 
Curtis),  the  Light  Dragoons  (Capt.  Reed), 
and  the  National  Lancers  (Capt.  Hayes). 
Captain  W.  T.  Sherman  had  been  ap 
pointed  Brigadier-General  of  this  division 
in  place  of  W.  R.  Gorham,  and  was  at  this 
time  in  command  of  all  the  military  forces. 

These  were  not  ordered  out  at  once. 
Instead,  the  Sheriff  attempted  to  maintain 
his  authority  by  a  special  detail  of  private 
citizens. 

But  the  better  class  of  San  Francisco 
were  arrayed  against  the  authorities, 
and  a  Vigilance  Committee  was  formed. 
The  people  arrayed  themselves  under 
the  committee,  into  several  companies.  On 
May  1 8th,  these  companies  were  summoned 
early  and  were  placecd  in  charge  of  Chief- 
Marshal  Charles  Doane.  A  detachment 
took  possession  of  the  field-piece  of  the 
California  Guard  and  prepared  it  for  ac 
tion.  Shortly  after  noon  the  companies 
formed  under  the  escort  of  the  Citizens' 
Guard,  Capt.  James  N.  Olney.  Among 
the  remaining  company  officers  were  Capt. 
Donnelly,  Lieut.  Frank  Eastman,  and  Capt. 
Richard. 

On  the  following  day,  they  raided  the 
armory  of  the  First  California  Guard,  tak 
ing  therefrom,  rifles,  swords,  ammunition, 
and  two  sixpounders. 

With  these  they  established  an  armory 
of  their  own  at  their  headquarters. 

The  number  of  the  vigilants  rapidly  swell 
ed  to  thousands  of  men.  They  assumed 
the  administration  of  justice  themselves. 

A  Trial  Committee  investigated  all 
charges  of  crime,  and  their  verdict  was 
reviewed  by  a  still  larger  committee.  Crim 
inals  were  either  exiled  or  hung. 

Of  course,  all  this  could  not  be  tamely 
viewed  by  the  State  authorities,  and  con 
sequently,  on  June  2,  Gov.  Johnson  order 
ed  Gen'l  Sherman  to  call  upon  such 
as  might  be  deemed  necessary  of  the  enroll 
ed  militia  or  those  subject  to  military  duty; 
also,  upon  all  the  voluntary  independent 
companies  of  the  military  division,  to  en 
force  the  law.  San  Francisco  was  declar 
ed  in  a  state  of  insurrection. 

But  the  Governor's  proclamation  was 
ridiculed  as  too  late,  and  but  about  seventy- 
five  men  responded  to  Gen.  Sherman's  or 
ders. 


Many  military  companies  disbanded 
throughout  the  State  as  well  as  in  San 
Francisco.  Some  returned  their  arms  to 
the  State,  others  took  them  to  the  Vigilance 
Committee  as  the  real  representatives  of 
the  people. 

General  Sherman,  finding  himself  not 
in  sympathy  with  the  authorities,  resigned 
and  Volney  E.  Howard  was  appointed  in 
his  place. 

In  a  few  months  the  criminal  element 
of  society,  under  this  irregular,  but  effect 
ive  reign  of  the  Vigilants  was,  in  a  great 
measure,  subdued.  The  Committee  dis 
banded,  and  on  November  3d,  returned 
the  captured  arms  to  the  State. 

In  the  spring  of  the  same  year,  the  In 
dians  in  Klamath  County  proved  trouble 
some,  and  to  subdue  them  a  company  of 
volunteers  was  formed  of  about  thirty  men. 
These  had  several  brushes  with  the  In 
dians,  who  were  finally  subdued,  however, 
later  in  the  year  by  a  force  under  General 
John  Cosby. 

In  the  winter  of  1858-59,  a  still  more 
severe  campaign  was  held.  The  volun 
teers  were  under  the  direct  leadership  of 
Adj.  General  Kibbe.  Some  one  hundred 
Indians  on  the  northwest  frontier  were 
killed,  and  about  three  hundred  were  cap 
tured  and  sent  to  a  reservation. 

In  the  following  summer  the  Indians  of 
Mendocino  County  destroyed  life  and 
property.  The  hostile  band  was  chased 
and  scattered  by  a  company  of  about 
twenty  volunteers. 

The  last  militia  service  worthy  of  note 
before  the  time  of  the  civil  war,  was  in 
1860,  at  the  time  of  the  Carson  river  mas 
sacre  in  the  State  of  Nevada.  With  sub 
stantial  courtesy  to  a  sister  State  in  trouble, 
California  forwarded  assistance  in  the 
shape  of  arms  and  men. 

Up  to  this  time  all  troubles  calling  for 
armed  bodies  of  men,  had  been  with  In 
dians,  criminals  or  squatters.  In  their 
nature,  these  troubles  were  of  an  irregular 
and  temporary  character,  and  were  settled 
in  the  main,  by  men  who  organized  and 
acted  on  the  need  and  impulse  of  the  oc 
casion. 

But  now  came  ominous  rumors  of  an 
impending  national  struggle.  The  need 
was  felt  for  the  use  of  all  the  energies  of 
the  State  toward  the  organization  of  all 
her  resources  of  defense  or  offense  upon  a 


THE    GOLDEN    ERA. 


war  footing.  Citizens  aroused  themselves. 
Companies  of  all  kinds  were  formed  se 
cretly  and  openly.  It  was  rumored  that 
plans  were  afoot  to  tear  the  Pacific  Slope 
from  the  Union,  and  make  a  Pacific  Re 
public.  Various  military  companies  were 
organized  to  prevent  this,  and  various  oth 
ers  for  no  other  than  the  vague  idea  that 
they  would  be  somehow  needed. 

In  the  Legislature  matters  were  equally 
stirring.  A  committee  made  a  thorough 
examination,  and  a  valuable  and  systemat 
ic  report  of  the  state  of  the  militia. 

The  first  call  for  troops  from  California, 
by  the  Secretary  of  War,  was  made  in  the 
middle  of  the  year  1862.  It  was  for  one 
regiment  of  infantry  and  five  companies  of 
cavalry. 

Their  duties  were  to  protect  the  mail 
route  from  Carson  valley  to  Salt  Lake  and 
Fort  Laramie.  Tinkham,  in  his  history  of 
Stockton,  mentions  that  the  Light  Dragoons 
served  as  an  honorary  escort  to  these  vol 
unteers  on  their  way  to  Salt  Lake. 

A  few  days  after  the  first  call,  a  second 
was  made  for  four  regiments  of  infantry 
and  some  cavalry.  These  reported  to 
General  Sumner,  then  in  charge  of  the 
United  States'  troops  in  the  Pacific  di 
vision. 

It  may  be  well  to  mention  that  in  these 
exciting  times,  minor  troubles  escaped  no 
tice  that  would  otherwise  be  better  known. 

In  Santa  Clara  County,  by  certain  deci 
sions,  a  large  number  of  settlers  were  or 
dered  dispossessed  of  the  lands  that  they 
were  living  on.  But  to  the  number  of 
about  a  thousand,  they  offered  resistance 
to  the  execution  of  the  writs,  and  memo 
rialized  the  authorities  in  a  forcible  appeal 
modeled  closely  after  the  National  Declar 
ation  of  Independence. 

In  consequence,  the  Sheriff  of  the  Coun 
ty  reported  the  state  of  affairs  and  asked 
for  about  three  thousand  men  as  military 
aid.  The  Governor  gave  a  synopsis  of  the 
matter  in  a  message  to  the  Legislature, 
May  1 6,  1861. 

In  September  of  the  following  year, 
Gov.  Stanford,  at  the  request  of  the 
Sheriff  of  Sonoma  County,  ordered  out 
the  Petaluma  Guard,  Captain  P.  B.  Hew- 
litt  and  the  Emmet  Rifles,  Captain  T.  F. 
Bayliss,  to  execute  writs  of  restitution  or 
dered  by  the  courts  of  Sonoma  County, 
which  writs  the  occupants  of  the  land  were 


resisting.  The  companies  reported  at 
Santa  Rosa  on  September  2yth.  On  ar 
rival  at  the  lands  in  question,  they  en 
countered  an  armed  body  of  the  settlers- 
A  flank  movement  on  the  part  of  the 
militia  caused  their  opponents  to  retreat, 
leaving  the  State  troops  in  possession 
without  the  discharge  of  a  gun. 

During  the  Civil  War,  California  had 
plenty  to  do  in  fighting  Indians,  both  to 
the  north  and  south,  from  Washington 
Territory  to  New  Mexico. 

She  sent  to  the  aid  of  the  Government 
all  the  troops  required  of  her,  and  offered 
more.  But  the  Government  considered 
them  more  useful  at  home,  as  the  distance 
and  isolation  of  the  State,  with  the  prev 
alence  in  certain  districts  of  a  strong 
Southern  sentiment,  rendered  California 
an  object  of  solicitude  to  the  Washington 
authorities. 

The  glorious  part  performed  by  the 
California  regiments  in  the  war,  interest 
ing  as  it  is,  is  yet  more  within  the  pro 
vince  of  another  article  than  this. 

The  era  of  political  excitement  succeed 
ing  the  war,  infected  many  of  the  militia 
companies  to  such  an  extent  that  the  boys 
occasionally  forgot  themselves  as  a  non- 
partisan  organization.  As  an  instance, 
the  news  of  the  nomination  of  Grant  and 
Colfax  in  1868,  so  aroused  the  enthusiasm 
of  the  Stockton  Light  Artillery,  that  they 
fired  a  salute  of  a  hundred  guns  in  honor 
thereof.  So  natural  a  prompting  of  the 
Republican  sentiments  of  the  company, 
although  it  resulted  in  a  great,  good  time 
for  the  boys,  failed  to  elicit  a  very  sympa 
thetic  response  from  the  Democratic  senti 
ments  of  the  State  authorities,  who 
promptly  disbanded  the  company  amid 
immense  excitement,  and  the  local  his 
torian,  who  chronicled  the  affair  several 
years  after,  was  even  then  unable  to  re 
strain  his  indignation. 

A  period  of  activity  in  the  militia  was 
ushered  in  by  the  expedition  to  Sutter 
Creek,  usually  referred  to' as  the  "Amador 
War."  Early  in  July,  1870,  the  miners 
and  laborers  in  Amador  County  organized 
a  league,  whose  beneficial  aims  secured  for 
it  a  membership  embracing  in  addition 
many  of  the  solid  businessmen  of  the  com 
munity.  But  in  1871  a  strike  was  begun, 
which  went  to  the  extent  of  the  prevention 
by  force  of  the  employment  of  non-mem- 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


527 


bers  at  the  mines.  In  addition,  the  pumps 
were  not  allowed  to  be  worked  by  the  en 
gineers  and  the  mines  were  rapidly  filling 
with  water,  to  the  great  prospective  damage 
of  the  mining  property.  Appeal  for  troops 
was  made  to  Governor  Haight,  the  mine 
owners  at  the  same  time  offering,  inasmuch 
as  State  money  was  not  available  at  the 
time,  to  pay  expenses  and  good  wages  to 
the  troops  while  in  service. 

Gov.  Haight,  accordingly,  on  June  2ist, 
1871,  ordered  Brig.  Gen'l  Hewston,  com 
manding  the  2d  Brigade,  to  designate  two 
companies  from  the  First  Regiment  (Col. 
Barnes)  to  report  to  Maj.  J.  F.  Brbnson, 
as  commander  of  the  battalion. 

The  First  assembled  early  the  next  day, 
and  Companies  C  (Nationals)  and  E  (Sum- 
ner  Light  Guard)  were  chosen.  Details 
from  other  companies  of  the  regiment  were 
made  as  follows  : 

Co.  B,  twelve  men ;  Co.  D,  eight  men; 
Co.  F,  eight  men;  and  Co.  H,  six  men;  to 
report  to  Capt.  Oscar  Woodhams,  of  Co. 
E ;  and  Co.  G,  ten  men,  to  report  to  Capt. 
Geo.  Humphrey,  of  Co.  C. 

At  six  o'clock,  the  men  were  on  the 
steamer.  The  force  consisted  of  ten  offi 
cers  and  over  165  men.  They  were  se 
lected  from  San  Francisco,  so  that  Sacra 
mento,  being  nearer  the  scene,  could 
promptly  re-enforce  if  necessary.  The 
Leaguers  were  estimated  at  from  three  to 
five  hundred  men,  armed  with  breech 
loaders. 

The  command  was  quartered  at  Sacra 
mento,  while  Governor  Haight  proceeded 
to  Sutter  Creek  to  negotiate,  if  possible, 
a  peaceful  settlement  of  difficulties.  His 
mission  failed. 

On  the  twenty-fifth,  the  troops  left  Sac 
ramento,  and  reached  Sutter  Creek  after 
nightfall.  The  only  hostile  demonstra 
tions  made  were  the  firing  of  a  few  blank 
cartridges  by  the  Leaguers,  over  the 
heads  of  the  troops.  Guards  were  imme 
diately  stationed  at  the  threatened  proper 
ty,  and  on  June  26th,  the  mines  and  mills 
were  again  working.  No  interference  was 
offered  by  the  strikers  to  the  employment 
of  laborers. 

After  several  days  of  quiet,  it  became 
apparent  that  the  protection  by  the  troops 
would  continue  while  necessary.  Accord 
ingly,  the  Leaguers  and  mine-owners  held 
a  conference,  in  which  it  was  agreed 


that  the  former  rates  of  wages  were  to  be 
continued,  while,  on  the  other  hand,  the 
Chinese,  who  had  been  partly  the  source 
of  the  difficulty,  were  to  be  discharged. 

On  July  1 6th,  the  troops  broke  camp, 
and  marched  to  Latrobe.  The  twenty- 
two  miles  of  rough  country  were  traversed 
in  eight  hours,  principally  at  night.  On 
arrival  at  San  Francisco,  they  were  met 
by  the  remainder  of  the  regiment,  with 
a  band  of  music,  and  marched  to  their 
quarters  amid  an  ovation  from  their 
friends. 

In  this  little  campaign,  the  conduct  of 
the  men  was  admirable.  There  was  the 
strictest  discipline,  good  order,  sobriety, 
and  unremitting  drill.  Adj.  Gen.  Caz- 
neau  says  :  "  The  refreshing  union  of  sol 
dier  and  gentleman  was  always  apparent, 
and  when  the  force  finally  withdrew  from 
Sutter  Creek,  the  League  were  foremost 
among  the  public  to  express  their  admira 
tion  of  the  conduct  of  the  soldiery."  Which 
last  remark  suggests  the  idea  that  the 
Leaguers  were  not  such  misguided  fellows, 
after  all  ! 

The  sad  episode  of  the  affair  was  the 
death  of  Major  Bronson,  after  his  return 
to  San  Francisco — a  result  attributed  to 
the  exposures  and  hardships  of  camp  life 
and  marching,  and  the  cares  of  responsi 
bility.  By  his  death,  the  Guard  lost  a 
sterling  soldier,  and  the  State  a  faithful 
citizen.  Others  also  died  shortly  after 
wards  from  colds,  etc.,  undoubtedly  caused 
by  the  unwonted  exposure  and  fatigue 
they  had  undergone. 

The  Amador  war  is  responsible  for 
many  of  those  reminiscences,  which  re 
hearsed  again  and  again,  at  the  many  so 
cial  gatherings  in  the  National  Guard,  are 
received  and  understood  as  pleasant  com 
pounds  of  memory,  imagination,  and  in 
vention.  One  of  these  attaches  to  the 
then  Colonel  of  the  First,  General  Barnes. 
There  is  danger  that  investigation  would 
spoil  the  story,  and  so  it  is  here  given  as 
told. 

The  mine-owners  had  at  the  outset 
guaranteed  to  the  men  pay  and  subsist 
ence.  Col.  Barnes  communicated  this  to 
his  men,  and  assured  them  of  the  good 
faith  of  the  mine-owners.  But,  at  the 
close  of  the  service,  there  seemed  to  be 
some  doubt  whether  subsistence  was  to  have 
come  from  the  State  or  the  mine-owners 


5*8 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


hence,  a  dollar  a  day  per  man  was  with 
held  from  their  pay,  until  the  question 
should  be  settled. 

Now,  certain  of  these  men  who  served, 
made  this  disputed  dollar  a  special  study, 
and  finally  arrived  at  the  conclusion  that 
they  must  look  to  the  Colonel  for  it.  This 
was  the  more  natural,  inasmuch  as  Col. 
Barnes  had  been  a  sort  of  godfather  to 
the  regiment,  from  the  time  he  had  taken 
command,  and  as  it  was  through  his  efforts 
that  they  had  received  uniforms,  equip 
ments,  breech  loaders,  and  various 
other  blessings,  they  had  come  to  believe 
that  it  was  but  "ask  and  ye  shall  re 
ceive." 

Accordingly  they  formed  in  a  body  and 
proceeded  to  his  office.  Their  spokes 
man  entered  their  complaint  and  made 
formal  demand  for  that  dollar.  It  was  a 
critical  moment.  The  odds  were  enor 
mous.  The  doorway  was  held  by  the 
right  of  the  enemy,  and  the  Colonel's  line  of 
retreat  was  cut  off.  To  accede  to  their  de 
mands  was  ruin.  With  rare  presence  of 
mind,  he  said: 

"You  are  all  members  of  the  First 
Regiment  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  (unanimously  and  hopefully). 

"  And  subject  to  my  orders  ?  " 

"Yes,"  (not  quite  so  unanimously). 

"Fall  in!" 

A  line  was  formed  facing  the  Colonel. 

"  Right,  face  !" 

Beautifully  done  ! 

"  Forward,  march  \ " 

In  a  minute  the  last  man  of  that  formid 
able  file  had  marched  from  the  room,  and 
the  Colonel  was  saved  by  the  discipline  of 
his  men. 

In  the  latter  part  of  1872  and  in  1873, 
there  were  various  brushes  with  the  In 
dians.  In  Siskiyou  county  and  vicinity, 
various  independent  companies  were 
armed  against  them. 

Some  of  the  regular  State  troops  also 
saw  service  in  the  lava  beds  against  Cap 
tain  Jack,  and  the  Modocs. 

In  January,  1876,  from  the  Second 
Brigade  was  furnished  a  funeral  escort  to 
the  remains  of  Benjamin  P.  Avery,  Minis 
ter  to  China. 

On  February  28,  1876,  a  fire  broke  out 
at  San  Quentin  prison,  and  a  call  was  made 
for  troops  from  the  city  to  prevent  a  pos 
sible  escape  of  prisoners.  A  detachment 


under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Oscar  Wood 
hams,  consisting  of  the  "Nationals,"  Captain 
Humphreys,  and  the  "Union  Guard,"  Cap 
tain  Fritz,  promptly  left  for  the  scene. 
The  good  behavior  of  the  prisoners,  how 
ever,  rendered  their  services  unnecessary. 

The  Sheriff  of  San  Joaquin  county,  on 
July  22nd,  called  for  30  men  of  the 
Stockton  Guard,  "  because  certain  lawless 
persons  were  combining  to  take  from  jail 
a  certain  prisoner  held  by  him  in  lawful 
custody."  The  men  were  immediately  fur 
nished,  and  the  danger  was  averted. 

The  Chico  Guard,  in  March,  1877, 
were  mustered  and  kept  under  arms  while 
a  number  of  prisoners  were  removed  from 
Chico  to  Oroville  for  trial. 

In  the  turbulent  years  of  1877-78-79, 
the  National  Guard  were  often  looked  to 
for  security,  and  although  their  duties  went 
little  farther  than  the  frequent  assemblage 
at  their  respective  armories,  to  be  in  read 
iness  for  service,  yet  there  is  little  doubt 
that  their  influence  toward  civil  order  was 
pre-eminently  effective. 

In  Sept.  1879,  the  Second  Brigade  bore 
a  conspicuous  part  in  the  reception  ac 
corded  to  General  Grant  on  his  return  trip 
around  the  world.  A  remarkably  fine  dis 
play  was  also  made  by  this  brigade  on  the 
occasion  of  the  visit  of  President  Hayes. 

When  Kalloch  was  shot,  an  excited 
crowd  gathered,  and  the  troops  were  again 
needed  and  furnished  until  all  danger  had 
passed. 

A  similar  service  was  performed  by 
Companies  A,  G,  B,  and  the  cadets,  of  the 
First  Artillery  at  Sacramento,  following  the 
killing  of  James  Lansing  by  one  Raten,  in 
1882. 

The  last  difficulty  that  has  occasioned 
the  services  of  the  National  Guard  was  in 
July,  1884,  and  like  the  first  trouble  in 
1850,  sprung  from  disputed  land  titles. 

The  Sheriff  of  San  Joaquin  County  being 
resisted  in  the  execution  of  writs  upon  set 
tlers  on  the  Moquelumne  grant,  called 
for  aid.  The  Stockton  and  Emmet  Guards, 
under  Captain  Eugene  Lehe,  of  the  Stock 
tons,  thereupon  accompanied  the  Sheriff, 
and  under  their  protection,  the  writs  were 
successfully  served. 

The  promptitude  and  unanimity  with 
which  these  companies  responded  to 
the  summons,  and  the  readiness  with  which 
they  took  the  field,  although  armed  at 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


529 


first  with  obsolete  and  condemned  guns, 
is  creditable  to  their  courage  and  disci 
pline. 

VI. 

Upon  the  organization  of  the  First 
California  Guard,  the  pioneer  company, 
the  number  signing  the  roll  was  forty-one. 
This  was  soon  increased  to  a  hundred. 

As  detailed  before,  other  companies 
were  rapidly  organized  until  in  1854,  they 
numbered  twenty-four,  with  a  membership 
of  1600,  which  increased  the  next  year  to 
3000. 

In  1860  there  were  49  companies,  4000 
strong.  In  1861,  there  31  companies  with 
1860  men.  The  Senate  committee  report 
ed  this  year  that  some  seventy  companies 
had  been  organized  since  1852. 

In  1862  the  influence  of  the  war  had  in 
creased  the  number  to  5,694  out  of  an  en 
rollment  of  142,000  subject  to  militia 
duty. 

In  1865  there  were  140  infantry,  20 
cavalry  and  5  artillery  companies,  with  a 
membership  of  8,250. 

In  1866,  to  reduce  the  militia  to  a  peace 
footing,  14  field  and  staff  organizations 
and  88  companies  were  mustered  out. 
This  left  73  companies;  n  cavalry,  4  artil 
lery  and  58  infantry,  with  a  membership  of 
5,200. 

In  1868,  the  number  of  companies  had 
fallen  to  37,  of  which  30  were  infantry,  5 
cavalry  and  2  artillery.  The  force  was 
2,700  men. 

In  1871,  there  were  3400  enlisted  out 
of  94,000  enrolled;  in  1873,  2,700  out  of 
105,000;  in  1874,  2,600  men ;  in  1876, 
2600;  in  1879,  2,700  out  of  1 1 2, ooo  en 
rolled  ;  in  1880,  3, 300  out  of  122,000  ;  in 
1882,  2,650  men.  At  the  time  of  the 
Division  Encampment  this  year  the  force 
was  in  43  companies. 

VII. 

While  from  the  first,  companies  in  the 
Guard  have  in  whole  or  in  part  been  sub 
ject  to  expenses  arising  in  various  ways,  the 
institution  is  theoretically  paid  for  by  the 
State  and  the  Nation.  The  National  sup 
port  is  allotted  to  the  states,  according  to 
their  respective  strength ;  and  to  this,  the 
State  adds  such  funds  as  may  be  deemed  ne 
cessary. 

The  first  public  support  was  to  the  com 
panies  of  San  Francisco,  being  an  appro 


priation    by    the    city    in    1853    of    $500 
monthly  for  rent  of  armories. 

For  the  three  years  previous  to  1856,  the 
quota  which  California  received  from  the 
United  States  in  the  shape  of  arms  and  the 
like  averaged  about  $20,000  annually. 

In  1 86 2,  an  appropriation  of  $2 50  a  month 
was  made  for  the  First  California  Guard 
as  a  mounted  battery  of  artillery. 

Then  there  was  gradually  developed  a 
method  of  allowance  to  the  different  com 
panies  according  to  strength,  arm  of  ser 
vice,  necessary  equipment  and  the  like. 
This  has  been  frequently  changed  as  to  de 
tails. 

In  March  1885,  this  allowance  was 
specified  as  follows : 

To  each  infantry  or  artillery  company, 
$100  per  month. 

To  each  artillery  or  Gatling  battery, 
having  four  guns,  $200  per  month. 

To  each  cavalry  company,  $150  per 
month. 

To  each  regiment  or  battalion,  $5 
monthly,  for  incidentals,  and,  if  the  body 
contains  four  companies,  $25  monthly  for 
an  organized  band  of  twelve  pieces. 

To  each  Brigade  General,  $5  monthly 
for  each  company  for  incidentals. 

To  the  Major-General,  $600  per  year. 

To  each  company,  uniforms  and  their 
repair,  to  the  amount  of  $150  per  year. 

To  the  Adjutant-General,  $3,500  annu 
ally,  for  the  promotion  of  rifle  practice. 

VIII. 

The  necessity  to  the  National  Guard  of 
effective  weapons  and  skill  in  their  use  is 
so  self-evident,  that  any  deficiency  in  that  di 
rection  which  may  exist  anywhere,  must  be 
attributed  more  to  carelessness  or  lack  of 
funds  than  to  any  positive  opinion  other 
wise.  Of  course,  the  weapons  used  at 
different  times  varied  with  the  state  of  the 
art  of  manufacturing  them.  In  the  Con 
stitution  of  '49,  the  militia-man  is  required 
on  certain  occasions  to  be  provided  "  with 
three  good  flints,  or  100  percussion  caps," 
thus  indicating  that  the  old  flint-lock  was 
not  even  then  obsolete. 

The  stimulus  given  to  invention  in  the 
direction  of  arms  during  the  Civil  War, 
soon  made  the  muzzle  loaders  an  obsolete 
weapon.  The  first  regiment  armed  with 
breech  loaders  was  the  First  Infantry,  Sec 
ond  Brigade.  These  guns  were  of  Sharp's 


53° 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


pattern,  500  in  number,  and  cost  nearly 
$12,000  which  was  raised  by  private  sub 
scription  through  the  efforts  of  Colonel 
Barnes. 

Recommendations  were  frequently  made 
to  the  authorities  that  they  arm  the  troops 
with  the  Springfield  breech-loading  rifle. 
In  1875  the  Governor,  by  energetic  efforts 
obtained  the  desired  arms  from  the  general 
government  and  by  the  close  of  that  year, 
a  majority  of  the  troops  had  been  supplied. 
In  1877,  all  but  two  infantry  companies 
were  reported  armed  with  the  new  weap 
ons. 

Cotemporaneous  with  the  introduction 
of  this  arm,  was  the  rise  of  interest  in  rnark- 
manship.  Target  excursions  grew  more 
frequent.  On  March  20,  1875,  a  match 
was  shot  between  a  visiting  team  of  fifteen 
from  a  Nevada  company,  and  a  like  num 
ber  from  Company  E,  of  the  First  Regi 
ment,  San  Francisco.  This  was  won  by 
the  California  men  by  three  points. 

The  same  Company  E  (Sumners)  also 
arranged  a  match  by  telegraph  with  Com 
pany  D,  1 2th  New  York,  N.  G.,  to  take 
place  June  26th,  1875.  This  was  also 
won  by  the  Sumners. 

It  was  in  this  year  that,  mainly  through 
the  efforts  of  Col.  Shaw,  the  California 
Rifle  Association  was  organized.  Its  ob 
ject  is  "  to  encourage  rifle  practice  and 
promote  a  system  of  aiming  drill  and 
target  firing  among  the  National  Guard." 
Members  of  the  Guard  are  admitted  at 
one-half  the  regular  rates,  under  certain 
conditions.  This  association  holds  a  semi 
annual  meeting  for  prize  shooting. 

Such  was  the  progress  made  by  the  in 
dependent  efforts  of  companies  all  over 
the  State,  but  particularly  in  San  Francisco, 
that  attention  was  called  to  it  in  the  offi 
cial  State  reports  of  that  year.  The  Ad 
jutant-General  suggested  that  the  practice  be 
introduced  of  firing  at  unknown  distances. 
Major-General  George  R.  Vernon  remarks 
(Report  1875-77)  that  the  scores  at  the 
target  practice  of  the  California  compa 
nies  led  all  the  other  States. 

In  1876,  the  city  of  San  Francisco  of 
fered  for  a  prize  to  the  regiment  or  bat 
talion  whose  company  teams  make  the 
highest  aggregate  score,  a  centennial  tro 
phy  valued  at  $500.  This  was  to  be  held 
by  the  winner  for  one  year  and  again  con 
tested  for,  and  so  on  until  1976.  But  the 


rules  have  been  amended  so  as  to  bring 
the  possibility  of  permanent  possession 
within  the  range  of  our  times.  The  trophy 
was  won  by  the  First  Regiment,  which  is 
now  in  possession  of  it. 

In  September,  1877,  a  team  of  twelve 
were  invited  from  California  to  contest 
at  Creedmoor,  New  York,  for  a  bronze 
statue,  "The  Soldier  of  Marathon,"  pre 
sented  by  the  State  of  New  York,  to  be 
annually  contested  for  at  Creedmoor  by 
teams  from  the  National  Guard  of  differ 
ent  States. 

Accordingly,  sixteen  of  the  N.  G.  C. 
were  selected  by  competitive  matches  from 
which  the  twelve  were  to  be  chosen  on  the 
day  of  the  contest  at  New  York.  These 
sixteen,  with  the  scores  made  at  Creed- 
moor,  were — 

Brigadier-General  John    McComb,   79. 

Capt.  H.  J.  Burns,  Company  E,  First 
Infantry,  84. 

Capt  Wm.  H.  Brockhoff,  Company  D, 
Second  Infantry,  89. 

Lieut.  J.  Robertson,  Company  E,  First 
Infantry,  87. 

Serg't  C.  P.  LeBreton,  Company  C, 
First  Infantry,  87. 

Serg't  Harry  Hook,  Company  A,  Sec 
ond  Infantry,  83. 

Serg't  J.  P.  Warren,  Company  A,  Sec 
ond  Infantry,  86. 

Corp.  Charles  Nash,  Company  C,  First 
nlfantry,  86. 

J.  W.  Maher,  Company  C,  First  In 
fantry,  82. 

L.  Barere,Company  E.  First  Infantry,  76. 

E.  H.  Ladd,  Company  A,  Second  In 
fantry,  80. 

Wm.  Wright,  Company  A,  Second  In 
fantry,  76. 

E.  Unger,  Company   B,  First   Infantry. 

E.  N.  Snook,  Company  C,  First  In 
fantry. 

T.  E.  Carson  and  Geo.  H.  Strong, 
Company  E.  First  Infantry. 

Of  the  above,  only  the  first  twelve  par 
ticipated  in  the  contest.  The  other  States 
contesting  were  Connecticut,  New  York 
and  New  Jersey.  The  following  is  the 
score  by  teams  : 

200  yds.   500  yds.     Total 
California  499          496          995 

Connecticut        505          466         971 
New  York  480         487         967 

New  Jersey         411          333          744 


THE    GOLDEN    ERA.  531 

As  the  possible  number  of  points  was  A  suitable  rifle  range  for  the  Second  Brigade, 
1,200,  it  will  be  seen  that  California  won  *dJatc,ent  *?  fSan  Francisco,  to  be  used  exclusively 

by    the    National    Guard,    should    be    provided. 

by  a  score  of  82  1 1-12  per  cent.  This  is  a  great  necessity. 

On  the  return  of  the  victorious  team,  it        I  respectfully  recommend  that  an  allowance  of 

was    welcomed  at    Sacramento    and    ban-  at  least  100,000  rounds  of  cartridges,  freshly  load- 

queted  at  Stockton  and   Oakland.       Speak-  f  d  ^d  reliable,  be  expended  annually  in  rifle  prac- 

.  „,. *         f  tice;  that  a  rifle  range  be  constructed;  that  prizes 

ing  Of   this  match,    Gen.  Benet,    Chief   Ot  and  trophies  be  offered  by  the  State  for  competi- 

Ordnance,  U.  S.  A.,    in   his   report   to  the  tion  in  markmanship;  that  the  various  commands 

Secretary  of  War    said  :  ^e  required  to  practice  rifle  firing  at  least  six  times 

.          .  in  each  year;  that  the  troops  be  classified  accord- 

"  In  the  hands  of  the  California  team  ing  to  the  progress  made  in  shooting,  and  insig- 
from  Gen.  McComb's  brigade,  the  score  nias  be  distributed  for  the  two  highest  classes;  and 

made  is  said    never  to  have  been   equaled  that  Subdivision  2,  of  Section  2018,  of  the  Politi- 

in  a  militirv  team  match  "  cal  Code'  recluiring  annual  target  practice  on  Sep- 

m  a  military  tearr  tember  ninth  of  each          be        aled>    l  furtner. 

The  well-won  trophy  had  to  be  return-  more  respectfully  recommend  the  appropriation  of 
ed  the  following  year,  as  the  expense  of  $7,500,  to  be  expended  by  the  Adjntent -General,. 
the  trip  is  tOO  great  to  be  incurred  every  for  ammunition,  a  range  for  the  Second  Brigade, 

prizes,  trophies,  etc.     It  is  of  vital  importance  to 
.       the  service  that  the  soldier  be  experienced  in  the 

In  1878,  at  the  Sacramento  State  Fair,  use  of  his  weapon,  and  failure  in  that  respect 
the  prize  Of  $300  and  gold  medal  was  won  places  him  under  great  disadvantage  when  op- 
by  the  "Sumners"  of  San  Francisco.  Posed  bY  those  with  whom  this  practice  and  in- 
The  second  prize  of  $200  was  taken  by  s'™^±^s^  ffi^  and  persistently 

the  Sarsfield  Guard  Of  Sacramento.  neglect  the  instruction  of  their  men  in  the  use  of 

In  1878  the  office  of  Inspector  Gene-  the  rifle,  are  thoughtless  of  the  great  responsibility 
ral  Of  Rifle  Practice  was  created,  and  it  which  rests  on  those  in  whose  hands  the  lives  of 
is  apparent  that  the  tendencies  are  to  men  are  PlacecL" 

farther  encouragement  of  this  important  The  first  to  introduce  a  modern  system 
accomplishment,  by  the  State.  The  re-  of  nfle  practice  was  the  Sumner  Guard, 
port  of  the  present  incumbent  embodies  "Previously,  the  target  used  was  the  old 
many  practical  suggestions  for  the  future  :  regulation  one,  roughly  approximating  the 

figure    of  a  man,  and  scores  were     deter- 

The  State  should  furnish  ammunition,  suitable        •       -,  ,  ,      ,  mM<ilirprnpnf  of  distances 

rifle  ranges,  transportation  to  and  from  the  ranges,    ™m 

targets,  and  markers,  free  to  her  troops.  from    the    centre.      The     Sumners     began 

In  addition  to  individual  practice,  volley  and  using  the  Hythe  system,  which  differs  only 
file  firing  ought  to  be  regularly  pursued.  Men  from  the  Creedmoor  as  to  the  shape  of  the 
should  be  accustomed  to  firing  by  platoons,  or  whirh  is  smnre  while  the  Creed- 

companies,   with   coolness,   precision,   and  effect,    target,  WHICH   IS   square,  Will 
It  is  folly  to  expect  a  body  of  troops,  inexperienced   moor  is  circular.     The  target    surface    in 
in  firing  in  ranks,  to  present  an  effective  front  to  these  modern  systems  is  divided    by    con- 
a  determined  enemy.  centric    circles    or  squares,    the    belts    so 

J^^te^^^l^.  m^e  being  valued  in  the    order  of  their 
Certainly  not  by  requiring  men  to  pay  from  their    distances  from  the  bull  S  eye. 
private  purses  for  ammunition,  use  of  range,  etc.        It  must  be  remembered  that  the    scores 
As  I  said  before,  the  State  ought  to  furnish  all  of   mac[e   by    National   Guardsmen's  weapons 
these  free.     Officers  and  men   should  be  classified  ,   u     •     i      j  i       ,1  jn   i 

in  three  classes,  according  to  certain  percentages  must  nOt  be  JudSed  b?  th°Se  made  by  m- 
of  proficiency  they  attain  in  shooting,  the  highest  dependent  sharpshooters  guns  With  their 
being  designated  as  Sharpshooters,  the  next  Marks-  accurate  sights  and  hair  triggers.  The 
men,  and  the  next,  Third  Class.  Buttons,  badges,  regulation  gun  for  the  N.  G.  C.  has  an 
or  other  similar  insignias  should  be  given,  to  be  •  ,.  i  ,1  «  ™,n  »  ^f  tV,^  f^J 

worn  on  the  coat,  or  collar,  indicating  the  class  °Pen  S1Sht'  and  the  "  Pul1  °f  the  trl§' 
to  which  the  shooter  belongs.  Prizes  and  trophies  ger  IS  fixed  at  nx  pounds, 
should  be  offered,  and  no  medals  but  those  do-  The  practice  of  most  value  to  the  Guard, 
nated  by  the  State,  or  authorized  by  the  Adjutant-  however,  is  that  of  volley  firing  rather  than 
UoCnn:[G\±Ulen  r^hlTntl^tL^b^:  individual  marksmanship.  This  was  first 
tons  or  badges  of  veteran  soldiers  excepted.  Rifle  done  under  rules,  by  the  Oakland  Guard 
practice  should  be  made  apart  of  the  regular  drill,  in  1878,  at  which  time  also  the  practice  of 
and  men  should  be  taught  that  it  is  just  as  essen-  estimatina  distances  was  introduced.  In  the 
&*^fft£°%  5^°4JSrf  service  to  which  the  troops  are  most  liable, 
arms,  or  tactics.  that  of  facing  undisciplined  crowds,  aim  is 


532 


THE  GOLDEN   KRA. 


not  usually  taken,  and  the  end  to  be  attained 
is  the  sudden  demoralization  of  the  mob. 
This  is  more  quickly,  and,  in  the  end,  more 
bloodlessly  accomplished  by  volley  than 
by  desultory  shots. 

IX. 

In  time  of  peace,  military  routine  is  no 
toriously  dull.  To  the  spectator  the 
evolutions  of  a  well-drilled  body  of  men 
seem  easily  performed,  and  convey  a 
sense  of  pleasure,  but,  to  those  participat 
ing,  it  is  work,  and  when  often  repeated, 
monotonous  work.  The  majority  of  the 
National  Guard  are  young  men,  too,  and 
have  a  keener  taste  for  enjoyment.  It  is 
natural,  therefore,  that  we  find  the  annals 
of  the  N.  G.  C.  abounding  in  records  of 
visits,  and  banquets,  and  socials,  and  ex 
cursions,  and  balls.  In  such  times  as 
these,  there  is  no  harm  in  the  "  sound  of 
revelry  by  night,"  if  there  is  no  battle  of 
Waterloo  impending  the  next  day. 

The  first  thing  the  California  Guard  of 
1849  did,  was  to  §et  an  armory.  The 
next  thing,  was  to  dedicate  it,  which,  as 
mentioned  before,  was  done  on  the  22d 
of  February,  1850,  by  an  entertainment 
and  ball.  This  was  of  so  magnificent  a 
character,  as  to  remain  worthy  of  special 
mention  some  years  after  in  the  "  Annals 
of  San  Francisco." 

The  finale  of  the  parade,  which  followed 
the  organization  of  the  first  battalion  in 
1853,  was  a  large  old-fashioned  dinner  at 
Russ'  Gardens  in  San  Francisco.  Here 
it  was  that  Mrs.  Catherine  M.  Sinclair 
presented  to  the  newly  united  companies 
a  silken  ensign. 

In  1857,  the  militia  parade  in  San 
Francisco  was  the  main  feature  of  the  cel 
ebration  of  the  Lafayette  Centennial. 

The  Union  Guard  of  Stockton,  at  their 
first  annual  ball  in  November,  1861,  were 
presented  with  a  beautiful  flag  by  Miss 
Mary  Loring.  Mr.  George  W.  Tyler,  now 
of  San  Francisco,  then  a  member  of  the 
Company,  made  an  animated  and  loyal 
speech  in  response. 

By  1871,  the  custom  of  Sunday  picnics 
and  entertainments  had  grown  to  such  an 
extent  that  the  Adjutant  General  saw  fit 
to  recommend  their  discouragement  by 
Law. 

A  more  orthodox  method  of  Sunday 
observance  was  taken  by  the  First  Regi 
ment  of  San  Francisco,  in  1878.  In  this 


year,  Dr.  Stone,  of  the  First  Congregational 
church  was  appointed  chaplain  of  the  reg 
iment.  A  newspaper  report  published  at 
the  time,  gives  an  account  of  one  of  the 
special  church  services  for  the  Regiment. 
The  officers  and  men  attended  in  a  body, 
and  the  subject  of  the  sermon  w>s  appro 
priate  to  the  occasion. 

In  June  1873,  Mayor  Alvord  gave  a 
stand  of  colors  to  this  Regiment,  Governor 
Booth  making  the  presentation  speech, 
before  a  brilliant  assemblage. 

But  affairs  of  this  kind  so  abound  in 
the  records,  that  to  mention  all  is  impossi 
ble,  and  to  select,  save  as  illustration,  is 
invidious.  Companies  frequently  inter 
changed  visits.  Many  hold  monthly  socials. 
Exhibition  drills  are  frequently  given. 
Regimental  wing  drills,  introduced,  it 
seems,  by  Colonel  Woodhams,  of  the  First 
Regiment,  furnish  the  stimulus  of  rivalry. 

The  armories  of  the  respective  compan 
ies  are  fitted  up  according  to  taste,  with 
the  various  comforts  of  a  social  club.  The 
visitor  to  the  different  armories  will  see 
gymnasiums,  billiard  tables,  and  like  fa 
cilities  for  amusement ;  organs,  pianos, 
paintings,  historic  flags,  reading  rooms 
and  libraries.  In  1873,  a  Military  Li 
brary  was  organized  by  the  officers  in  San 
Francisco,  is  now  located  in  the  Safe 
Deposit  Building,  and  contains  about 
1300  volumes,  all  on  military  subjects. 

Armories  were  at  first  rented  at  the  ex 
pense  of  the  companies,  and  consisted, 
generally,  of  a  bare  room  for  drill.  The 
armory  of  the"  California  Guard,  however, 
seems  to  have  been  an  exception  to  this 
rule. 

At  the  close  of  the  Vigilance  troubles, 
the  building  the  committee  used  as  an  arm 
ory,  was  thrown  open  to  a  curious  public. 
It  was  stocked  with  all  sorts  of  arms,  ac 
coutrements  and  flags.  The  false-bot 
tomed  ballot  boxes,  which  they  had  man 
aged  to  secure,  attracted  much  attention. 

One  San  Francisco  company  owns  its 
own  armory  building,  and  in  1883,  the 
Sacramento  First  Artillery  purchased  their 
present  regimental  armory. 

But  there  is  an  old  and  growing  neces 
sity  for  armories  owned  by  the  State.  As 
early  as  in  the  fifties,  it  was  yearly  urged 
upon  the  State  that  it  should  take  meas 
ures  to  own  safe  armories  and  stop  rents. 
This  is  especially  necessary  in  San  Fran- 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


533 


cisco,  where  the  rental  of  the  scattered 
armories  in  use,  amounts  to  tens  of  thou 
sands  annually.  The  insecurity  of  present 
accommodations  is  such,  that  a  few  years 
back,  arms  had  to  be  placed  in  the  City 
Hall  for  security,  and  the  first  necessity, 
at  present,  when  difficulties  threaten,  is  to 
coop  the  bulk  of  the  National  Guard  in 
their  drill  rooms,  as  guards  to  the  build 
ings. 

In  March,  1864,  seven  mounted  guns 
were  forwarded  to  the  care  of  the  Adju 
tant  General,  who  took  the  best  measures 
possible  in  the  absence  of  any  building  al 
ready  provided,  by  renting  a  place  to  keep 
them.  The  door  fastenings  being  inse 
cure,  disloyal  incendiaries  entered  and 
set  fire  to  the  building,  necessitating  the 
remounting  of  the  guns  at  great  delay  and 
expense  to  the  State. 

The  advantages  of  State  armories  in 
point  of  security,  economy  and  means  of 
concentrating  troops  are  becoming  more 
and  more  evident.  The  National  Guard 
Officers'  Association,  which  held  its  first 
meeting  in  San  Francisco,  in  December, 
1884,  presented  these  advantages  to  the 
Legislature  in  a  well-conceived  petition. 
X. 

The  California  National  Guard  is  re 
markable  for  its  excellence  in  company 
drill.  As  an  evidence,  one  of  the  San 
Francisco  companies  several  yearj  ago  as 
tonished  the  people  of  Boston,  New  York, 
Philadelphia,  and  other  Atlantic  cities  by 
the  performance  of  evolutions  in  blindfold 
drill  that  were  as  perfect  as  many  well- 
drilled  companies  of  these  cities  could  give 
with  open  eyes.  In  fact,  it  did  open  their 
eyes.  This  perfection  has  been  largely 
carried  into  the  battalion  and  brigade  drill 
of  the  California  National  Guard  and  its 
discipline  as  a  whole,  while  on  duty,  is  as 
good  as  that  of  the  regular  armies  of  many 
countries.  The  many  sincere  compliments 
that  its  performances  have  on  various  occa 
sions  elicited  from  army  officers  are  further 
evidence  in  its  favor  and  need  only  be  al 
luded  to,  to  be  remembered  by  all  old 
members. 

But  drill  on  smooth  floors  and  profi 
ciency  in  theory  is  quite  another  thing  than 
excellence  in  the  field.  They  are  valuable 
as  preliminaries,  but  it  is  necessary  that  the 
fullest  experience  possible,  short  of  actual 
warfare  should  be  attained. 


It  is  also  desirable  in  the  highest  degree 
that  before  actual  service,  troops  should 
become  as  thoroughly  as  possible  used  to 
the  exposures  and  other  circumstances  in 
cident  to  camp  life.  This  was  early  under 
stood  by  those  to  whom  the  interests  of  the 
Guard  had  been  entrusted.  The  Mexican 
war  had  taught  them  that  among  war  troops 
in  actual  service,  the  camp  kills  four  men 
where  the  bullet  kills  one.  We  find  in  the 
reports  along  in  the  "fifties  "  many  repeated 
appeals  to  the  Legislature  to  establish  for 
short  periods  each  year,  National  Guard 
Encampments.  It  was  finally  seen  that 
the  companies  themselves  must  make  the 
start.  Accordingly  in  September,  1859, 
the  First  California  Guard,  the  Marion 
Rifles,  the  Sutter  Rifles,  the  Stockton 
Blues,  the  Coloma  Grays  the  Independent 
National  Guard,  and  the  Independent 
City  Guard,  each  with  25  to  45  men,  as 
sembled  a  mile  west  of  Sacramento,  in 
Yolo  county,  as  a  battalion,  for  an  experi 
mental  camp.  Officers  of  both  the  U.  S.  A. 
and  the  N.  G.  C.  were  in  command.  Of 
the  former,  Col.  Hooker,  afterwards  known 
to  fame  as  "  Fighting  Joe,"  was  at  the 
head  of  the  battalion.  Camp  Weller,  as 
it  was  known,  in  honor  of  the  then  Govern 
or,  awarded  a  first  prize  to  the  Independ 
ent  National  Guard  as  the  best  disciplined 
and  instructed  company  ;  a  second,  to  the 
same  company  for  steady  conduct  and  ac 
curate  drill ;  a  third,  to  the  Stockton  Blues 
for  target  shooting  ;  a  fourth  (a  gold  med 
al),  to  the  Sutter  Rifles  for  the  best  rifle 
shooting  ;  a  fifth  (a  silver  medal),  to  the 
Marion  Rifles  for  the  second  best  rifle 
shooting;  and  finally,  a  silver  bugle,  to  the 
First  California  Guard  for  efficiency  in 
drill  of  light  artillery. 

The  camp  lasted  for  three  days,  remem 
bered  yet  by  those  participating,  as  a  time 
of  enjoyment  and  instruction. 

The  most  memorable  encampment  be 
fore  that  of  the  present  year  was  held  from 
May  21  to  May  29,  1863,  in  accordance 
with  the  provisions  of  an  act  of  the  Legis 
lature  of  the  preceding  year.  This  act 
was  to  the  effect  that  the  Commander-in- 
Chief  shall  order  a  Camp  of  Military  In 
struction  to  continue  ten  days  in  April  or 
May  of  each  year,  which  shall  be  attended 
by  all  the  commissioned  and  non-commis 
sioned  officers  in  the  California  militia, 
and  be  commanded  by  the  Major-General. 


534  THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 

The  site  chosen  for  this  camp  was  a  the  day.  Fogarty  was  elected.  Of  course 
mile  from  the  Encinal  landing,  Alameda  no  camp  was  ever  entirely  satisfied  with 
county.  A  uniform  of  a  dark  blue  cloth  its  rations ;  but  in  this  case,  the  only  fault 
cap,  dark-colored  frock  coat,  and  dark-col-  that  could  be  found,  was  with  the  cooking, 
ored  pants,  was  required  to  be  worn  by  all  A  review  was  held  before  General  Geo. 
in  attendance.  Camp  Stanford,  as  it  was  T.  Wright  and  when  the  "camp  was  over, 
named  out  of  compliment  to  the  Governor,  the  troops  marched  in  San  Francisco  to 
was  to  be  commanded  by  Major-General  Washington  Square  where  they  were  finally 
Allen,  but  the  command  eventually  de-  reviewed  by  the  Governor, 
volved  upon  General  John  S.  Ellis,  then  The  benefits  of  this  camp  were  so  great, 
of  the  Second  Brigade.  The  State  fur-  that  after  a  lapse  of  ten  years,  the  Adjutant- 
nished  transportation  to  all  attending.  General  took  occasion  to  refer  to  it  in  his 

General  Headquarters  were  established  report  and  to  recommend  a  similar  encamp- 
in  two  old  fashioned  houses ;  an  organi-  ment  again. 

zation  was  effected  into  a  regiment  of  The  act  of  1862  already  referred  to,  also 
eight  companies,  with  a  total  strength  of  provided  that  the  Governor  should  order 
740  men.  Work  immediately  began  in  an  annual  encampment  of  not  more  than 
earnest.  It  was  in  war  time,  and  the  ten  days,  of  the  organized  militia,  to  be 
pressing  need  of  instruction  was  felt  by  held  in  September  or  October  within  the 
every  one  there.  This  instruction  was  brigade  limits,  and  further  provided,  that 
given  by  Colonels  Wood,  McKenzie  and  troops  attending  should  be  deemed  in  ac- 
Cazneau.  Schools  were  formed  in  the  'tive  service  and  paid  accordingly, 
infantry,  in  the  cavalry,  and  in  the  ar-  In  accordance  with  this,  the  Second 
tillery,  arms  of  the  service.  Daily  recita-  Brigade  organized  Camp  Allen  near  the 
tions  in  the  School  of  the  Soldier,  were  Encinal  on  October  6,  1863,  under  Bri- 
held.  All  the  different  drills  were  practiced.  gade-General  John  S.  Ellis;  the  Third 
Nor  was  it  all  work  and  no  play.  The  Brigade  established  Camp  Gilmore  on  the 
men  exercised  their  taste  in  the  most  elab-  i4th  of  September,  near  Stockton,  under 
orate  decorations,  admired  by  all  visitors.  General  Alex  M.  Dobbie  ;  the  Fourth 
Those  in  command  at  first  disapproved,  Brigade  Encampment  was  at  Camp  Kibbe 
but  soon  saw  their  mistake.  Such  en-  on  September  ipth,  near  Sacramento,  un- 
deavors  at  ornamentation  strengthen  es-  der  General  James  Collins,  and  the  Fifth 
prit  de  corps,  and  add  to  the  contentment  Brigade  went  to  Camp  Ellis,  near  Red 
and  good  fellowship  of  the  men.  In  the  Bluff,  October  26th,  under  General  John 
evening,  visited  by  citizens,  graced  by  the  Bidwell. 

presence  of  ladies,  made  attractive  by  the  The  Code  provided  for  the  expenses  of 
virtues  of  hospitality,  made  gay  by  light  pay  and  subsistance  to  men  in  camp  under 
and  color  and  brilliant  uniforms,  the  camp  certain  conditions,  but  in  no  important 
was  a  pleasant  resort.  instance  does  it  seem  that  companies  or 

Their  duties  over,  the  men  disported  regiments  availed  themselves  of  its  provis- 
themselves  in  various  ways.  Strange  ani-  ions.  The  next  Brigade  Encampment 
mals  could  be  seen  moving  through  the  noted  is  that  of  the  Second  Brigade  at 
camp.  Elephants  were  represented  by  Schofield,  near  San  Rafael,  May  20-22, 
two  men  bending  down  covered  with  a  1875.  It  was  under  command  of  Brevet 
blanket,  the  front  man  carrying  a  rolled  Major-General  W.  L.  Elliott,  U.  S.  A  ,  and 
blanket  for  a  trunk,  and  two  sword  scab-  it  was  a  feature  of  this  camp,  that  there  was 
bards  for  tusks.  Others  got  themselves  up  present  with  the  brigade,  a  detachment  of  the 
as  tigers  ;  many  personified  Indians.  First  U.  S.  Cavalry,  and  the  Light  Battery 
Mock  parades  were  given,  and  the  pecu-  of  the  Fourth  U.  S.  Artillery,  under  Major 
liarities  of  the  camp  officers  reproduced  in  Hasbrouk. 

burlesque.  A  general  election  for  Gov-  The  plan  of  having  companies  and  ofifi- 
ernor  was  held,  in  which  the  rival  candi-  cers  of  the  regular  army  in  camp  with  the 
dates — one  a  wit  by  the  name  of  Fogarty  National  Guard  worked  well.  Uncle  Sam 
— the  other  a  man  from  Pike  county,  furnished  nearly  all  the  tents ;  a  detach- 
Missouri,  known  as  Bull  Run  Joe — ad-  ment  of  his  soldiers  pitched  them,  and  his 
dressed  their  constituents  on  the  issues  of  officers  planned  the  camp  ;  the  First  U.  S. 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


535 


Cavalry  furnished  free  music;  and  above 
all  was  the  value  ©f  the  example  furnished 
by  the  regular  soldiers  and  the  instruction 
given  by  the  reglular  officers. 

Owing  to  the  lack  of  uniformity  in  arms, 
uniforms  and  equipments,  few  prizes  were 
given  ;  the  thousand  dollars  set  apart  for 
the  purpose  was  divided  among  the  com 
panies  instead. 

On  one  day  during  this  camp,  nearly 
900  men  answered  to  roll  call. 

Regimental  emcampments  were  in 
augurated  in  1878.  During  the  State 
Fair,  the  First  Regiment  of  San  Francis 
co,  the  Oakland  Guard,  the  Emmet 
Guard,  of  the  Third  Regiment ;  the  San 
Francisco  Light  Artillery,  the  Jackson 
Dragoons,  of  the  First  Cavalry  ;  the  Placer- 
ville  City  Guard,  the  City  Guard,  and  the 
Sarsfield  Guard,  of  the  first  battalion  of 
Infantry ;  the  Sacramento  Light  Artillery, 
and  the  St.  Patrick's  Cadets,  organized 
Camp  Irwin,  in  Sacramento.  Prize  drills 
were  held,  and  prize  rifle  shooting  prac 
ticed.  All  the  companies  in  camp  won 
golden  opinions  for  conduct,  discipline, 
and  training. 

In  that  year,  also,  nearly  all  the  com 
mands  in  the  State  went  into  camp  for 
periods  of  from  two  to  four  days. 

A  camp  was  also  held  at  Sacramento  in 
the  following  year,  and  named  Camp 
Walsh.  One  of  its  features  was  a  sham 
battle.  Other  encampments  were  held 
this  year,  and  in  1880,  the  Legislature 
passed  an  act  for  the  benefit  of  regimental 
encampments.  In  accordance  therewith, 
the  First  Artillery  camped,  September, 
1880,  at  Alameda;  in  1881,  near  Nevada 
City  ;  in  1882,  at  Laurel  Grove,  near  San 
Rafael.  The  First  Infantry  camped  in 
1880  at  Sacramento,  in  1881  at  Santa 
Cruz,  and  in  1882  at  San  Jose,  in  1883, 
for  eight  days,  at  Santa  Cruz,  and  in  1884, 
for  the  same  period,  at  Santa  Rosa. 

In  July,  1882,  companies  F,  G  and  H 
of  the  Second  Artillery,  and  the  Oakland 
Light  Cavalry  camped  three  days  at  Santa 
Cruz  at  their  own  expense. 

The  Third  Regiment  encamped  for 
three  days  at  Monterey  in  1884.  In  the 
same  year,  Company  G,  of  the  Second 
Artillery,  marched  to  the  Yosemite,  where 
they  remained  in  camp  for  a  few  days. 
The  Stockton  Guard  encamped  at  Oak- 
dale,  in  Stanislaus  county. 


A  general  encampment  of  the  rank  and 
file  of  the  National  Guard  of  California 
has,  at  various  times,  been  proposed.  In 
1869,  the  Adjutant-General  took  occasion 
to  officially  recommend  the  project  to  the 
Legislature.  Besides  the  advantages  of 
regimental  and  brigade  encampments,  it 
was  urged  that  a  general  encampment 
would  unify  the  whole  force,  and  increase 
soldierly  pride  in  the  National  Guard. 
An  appropriation  for  this  purpose  was  not, 
however,  decided  upon,  until  March  10, 
1885,  when  the  Legislature  allowed  to  the 
National  Guard  $20,000  to  be  expended 
in  one  or  two  years,  as  the  Board  of  Loca 
tion  and  Organization  may  direct  for  a 
general  division  encampment. 

It  was  also  enacted  in  the  same  month, 
that  bodies  encamping  annually  during 
seven  days,  receive  from  the  State  for  ex 
penses  $1.25  daily  for  each  member  in  the 
camp,  within  the  limit  of  $400  for  each 
company. 

As  the  total  allowance  was  none  too 
large,  it  was  easily  decided  to  expend  the 
amount  in  one  year  and  thus  Camp  Stone- 
man  was  established  in  August  of  this 
year. 

Before  a  site  for  a  camp  was  finally 
selected  a  party  of  regimental  command 
ers  visited  various  places  on  a  tour  of  in 
spection.  The  choice  was  finally  made  in 
favor  of  Santa  Cruz.  The  site  selected 
was  about  a  mile  from  town.  It  is  a  level 
field  of  about  120  acres  covered  with  thick 
growing  turf.  Wooded  ridges  border  and 
shelter  it  on  two  sides.  From  any  eleva 
ted  point  of  view  it  is  a  scene  of  beauty. 

It  has  the  varied  elements  of  mountain, 
hill  and  level;  forest  and  field;  orchard  and 
meadow  ;  pretty  houses  and  winding  roads 
and  beyond  it  all,  the  spires  of  the  little 
city  and  the  glimmer  of  the  bay. 

But  Santa  Cruz  did  not  trust  to  these 
natural  advantages  alone.  Realizing  the 
value  of  the  camp  in  a  business  point  of 
view,  well  knowing  that  no  National  Guards 
man  would  take  any  money  back  with  him, 
and  wanting  the  presence  of  the  boys  and 
a  good  time  anyway,  they  enterprisingly 
and  generously  offered  the  site  free  ;  to  put 
the  grounds  in  good  condition,  to  furnish 
food  and  stabling  for  the  horses,  straw  for 
mattresses,  lumber  for  needful  buildings, 
tables  and  benches,  to  erect  a  platform, 


536 


THE  GOLDEN   ERA. 


band-stand  and  flag-pole,  to  furnish  seven 
electric  lights  on  poles,  to  sprinkle  the 
grounds  and  keep  the  roads  in  order,  to 
lay  pipes  and  furnish  water  in  unlimited 
quantities,  and,  finally  to  donate  $1,000 
to  cover  anything  they  might  have  forgot 
ten.  These  offers  were  accepted.  On 
May  30,  the  general  orders  were  issued 
and  Camp  Stoneman  was  located  at 
Santa  Cruz. 

On  July  12,  the  camp  was  laid  out  by 
Generals  Turnbull  and  Cosby  and  Col. 
Hall  and  Major  Gordon — the  latter  of  the 
U.  S.  A.  This  was  done  in  generous  pro 
portions,  for  they  had  the  room.  Details 
from  the  different  companies  were  on  the 
grounds  a  day  or  two  in  advance  and 
pitched  the  tents. 

Liberal  transportation  rates  had  been 
secured  for  the  Guardsmen  and  their 
friends.  The  most  of  the  troops  arrived 
at  the  grounds  on  Saturday  night,  August 
1 5th.  On  the  morning  of  the  i6th,  about 
1 600  answered  at  roll  call.  This  attendance 
was  considerably  increased  by  the  end  of 
the  week.  The  Legislative  appropriation 
was  sufficient  for  an  average  of  only  about 
forty  men  to  each  company  ;  but  in  some 
companies,  a  larger  number  came,  the 
companies  paying  the  additional  ex 
pense.  The  appropriation  was  supple 
mented  also  very  considerably  in  various 
Avays. 

From  the  first  day  it  became  evident 
that  the  men  were  there  for  work.  Drills 
formed  a  generous  part  of  the  routine  of 
the  day,  and  the  programme  was  rigidly 
carried  out.  Discipline  was  strict,  the 
pickets  were  vigilant,  and  doubtless  very 
few  culprits  escaped  the  penalty  of  the 
guard-house.  When  the  tired  camp  had 
sunk  to  rest  after  taps,  the  stillness  was 
broken  only  by  the  frequent  cry  of  "  Cor 
poral  of  the  Guard,  Post  Number  five  " — 
or  whatever  other  number  designated  the 
post — indicating  that  one  more  belated 
unfortunate  had  failed  in  his  attempt  to 
enter  without  the  regulation  latch-key  of  a 
countersign  or  pass. 

The  1 8th  will  be  remembered  as  the 
date  of  the  first  general  review  ever  held 
of  the  State  troops.  This  was  before  Gov 
ernor  Stoneman  in  person.  The  faultless 
lines  and  the  accurate  evolutions  of  the 
National  Guard  on  the  ample  parade 
ground,  gave  ocular  evidence  of  the  labor 


and  study  and  expense  and  time  that  the 
friends  of  the  National  Guard  had  devoted 
to  it  from  the  days  of  '49  until  the  pres 
ent  had  produced  tangible  results. 

A  feature  of  the  occasion  was  the  music 
which  was  furnished  by  six  combined 
bands  under  the  leadership  of  Drum  Maj 
or  C.  M.  Mayberry,  of  the  First  Infantry. 

From  the  first,  the  companies  were  indus 
trious  and  tasteful  in  ornamenting  their 
quarters.  Those  regiments  and  compan 
ies  who  had  been  often  in  camp  took  the 
lead  in  this  direction,  but  the  others  quick 
ly  caught  the  infection,  and  each  last  com 
pany  effort  surpassed  all  the  others.  The 
tent  floors  were  carpeted  with  the  green 
foliage  of  the  fir  tree,  arbors  were  con 
structed  before  the  tent  entrances ;  one 
company  "hung  banners  on  the  outer 
walls",  another  arranged  a  system  of  lights 
in  various  colored  glasses  ;  one  regiment 
erected  a  tall  mast,  fr"<m  whose  top  ran 
in  every  direction  to  the  ground  lines  sus 
pending  Chinese  lanterns.  Trees  were 
brought  from  the  woods  and  planted  in 
rows  along  the  streets,  and  remained  green 
throughout  the  week.  Different  regiments 
erected  their  own  band  stands  and  laid 
their  own  dancing-floors.  Hardly  an  eve 
ning  passed  but  some  regiment  gave  a  ball, 
to  the  delight  of  the  fair  visitors  that  on 
each  evening  thronged  the  tented  streets. 
Companies  gave  and  returned  to  each 
other  receptions  with  a  hospitality  charac 
teristic  of  the  National  Guard.  Many  of 
the  tents  contained  musical  talent  sufficient 
for  quartettes  or  sextettes  of  quite  a  cred 
itable  order,  and  strains  floated  on  the 
evening  air  from  instruments  of  almost  all 
varieties,  even  including  a  piano  brought  by 
one  of  the  companies. 

Among  the  officers  and  their  visiting 
friends,  social  receptions  and  balls  were 
brilliant  and  frequent,  both  in  camp  and 
at  Santa  Cruz.  The  beach  was  daily  the 
resort  of  those  successful  enough  to  get 
leave  of  absence  from  camp. 

In  the  rear  of  the  General  Headquarters, 
tents  were  erected  for  a  printing  office, 
known  as  the  Encampment  Press. 

Here  were  printed  all  the  general  or 
ders,  and  social  invitations.  Quite  a 
custom  sprang  up  of  the  interchange  of 
personal  address  cards,  bearing  in  the  cor 
ner  some  design  indicative  of  the  proper 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


537 


rank    or  the  arm  of  the    service  to  which 
the  person  belonged. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  22nd,  the  en 
campment  was  virtually  terminated  by  a 
sham  battle ;  the  most  elaborate  and  suc 
cessful  mimic  contest  ever  held  in  the 
State.  The  hills  were  lined  with  specta 
tors.  The  attacking  forces  were  the  First, 
Third  and  Fifth  regiments  of  the  Second 
Brigade,  commanded  by  General  Dimond. 
The  camp  was  defended  by  the  First  and 
Second  Artillery  (in  reality,  infantry  reg 
iments),  the  Provisional  Regiments,  and 
the  Hussars.  The  attack  was  made  over 
and  around  the  low,  cleared  extension  of 
the  wooded  ridge,  which  bordered  the 
camp-ground  For  the  most  of  the  time, 
the  First  Artillery  faced  the  First  Infantry; 
the  Second  Artillery,  the  Fifth  Infantry; 
and  the  Provisional  Regiment,  the  Third 
Infantry;  while  the  Hussars  were  principally 
engaged  with  the  Light  Battery. 

This  latter  was  once  captured  and  once 
re-taken  ;  the  attack  was,  as  arranged, 
steadily  successful,  and  the  final  and  al 
most  hand-to-hand  conflict,  was  held  on 
the  parade  ground. 

Governor  Stoneman  umpired  the  con 
flict,  ordering  those  companies  to  retreat, 
which  would  probably  have  been  forced  to 
do  so,  had  it  been  actual  warfare. 

The  next  day  tents  were  struck.  The 
episode  of  the  morning  was  the  burial 
procession,  made  up  principally  from  the 
Fifth  Regiment.  It  was  headed  by  a  band 
playing  a  dirge.  Gaps  were  worn  reversed; 
all  sorts  of  implements  and  improvised 
ensigns  and  banners  were  carried.  Four 
men  bore  a  bier  decorated  with  flowers 
and  covered  with  empty  bottles.  These 
were  laid  to  rest  in  front  of  General  Head 
quarters,  in  presence  of  the  Governor  and 


staff,  to  appropriate  remarks,  convulsive 
weeping  and  suppressed  murmurs  of  the 
name  of  that  execrable  article  of  diet 
which  had  aroused  so  much  wrath,  and 
which  it  has  become  unwise  to  mention 
in  presence  of  a  National  Guardsman. 

It  is  too  soon  to  write  fully  of  the  re 
sults  of  this  encampment.  Its  friends  can 
not  claim  for  it  all  the  advantages  of  regi 
mental  encampments,  nor  can  its  opposers 
deny  them  all.  The  greatest  benefits  were 
to  those  regiments  who  are  most  scattered 
and  isolated,  and  who  have  least  experi 
ence  in  encampments.  The  most  of  those 
who  doubt  the  wisdom  of  a  Division  En 
campment  are  to  be  found  in  the  city 
regiments.  It  is  claimed  for  the  encamp 
ment  that  it  is  economical,  unifies  the 
troops,  increases  friendly  feeling  between 
brigades,  and  pride  in  the  National  Guard, 
It  is  claimed  for  regimental  encampments 
that  they  admit  of  a  routine  better  adapted 
to  the  wants  of  the  regiment,  and  a  selec 
tion  of  a  locality  more  in  accordance  with 
the  wishes  of  its  members.  A  San  Fran 
cisco  private,  in  a  conversation  with  the 
writer,  claimed,  with  amusing  naivete  that 
there  are  not  officers  enough  at  a  regiment 
al  encampment  to  monopolize  the  society 
of  the  fair  visitors. 

It  is  certain,  however,  that  Camp  Stone 
man  came  reasonably  up  to  the  expecta 
tions  of  its  projectors,  and  that  it  enabled 
every  National  Guardsman  to  form  a  good 
idea  of  the  stength  and  proficiency  of  that 
splendid  body  of  young  men  of  which  he- 
is  a  member.  At  Camp  Stoneman  the  Na 
tional  Guards  encouraged  itself  and  its 
friends,  and  gave  promise  for  the  future  of 
a  continuation  of  the  advancement  which, 
we  have  just  seen  in  all  its  past. 

CLARENCE  A.  MILLER. 


HISTORY    OF    COMPANIES. 


In  the  preceding  general  sketch,  it  was  not 
deemed  advisable  to  introduce  company  histo 
ries,  except  in  so  far  as  they  were  necessary  to 
the  general  view  of  the  subject.  Nor  is  it  possi 
ble  in  the  limits  of  a  magazine  article,  to  sketch 
the  career  of  each  of  the  hundreds  of  companies 
that  have  been  in  existence  in  this  State.  It  was 
necessary  therefore,  to  select  a  few  of  what  may 
be  termed  representative  companies,  old  and 
new,  city  and  interior,  in  such  a  way  that  their 
histories  which  are  here  appended,  may  convey 
to  the  reader  as  clear  an  idea  as  possible,  of  the 
general  characteristics  that  belong  to  all  the 
companies  in  the  National  Guard.  Our  choice 
has  been  largely  determined,  too,  by  our  facil 


ities  for  obtaining  correct  information  in  regard 
to  them. 

In  the  general  article,  reference  has  princi 
pally  been  made  to  the  earlier  companies. 
Eno"ugh,  however,  has  not  been  given  of  the 
pioneer  of  all  California  companies. 

FIRST   CALIFORNIA   GUARD. 

The  date  of  this  organization  has  already  been 
given  as  July  27,  1849.  Its  charter  members 
numbered  many  of  the  best  citizens  of  San 
Francisco,  and  nave  already  been  referred  to, 
and  the  causes  and  manner  of  organization 
have  been  given.  This  company  participated 
in  the  Sacramento  Squatter  war. 


538 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


In  the  May  fire  of  1850,  the  Armory  equip 
ments  ami  all  property  belonging  to  the  "First 
California  Guard"  were  entirely  destroyed. 
The  Battery  again  equipped  itself,  and  built  an 
other  arnioYy,  but  in  the  great  fire  of  June  1851, 
all  was  again  lost.  Through  the  enterprising 
and  energetic  spirit  of  its  members,  the  Old 
(iuard  procured  another  armorv  and  was  again 
equipped. 

The  first  funeral  ceremonies  performed  by 
the  Guard,  were  over  the  death  of  Hon  .E.  Gil 
bert,  first  Congressman  from  the  State  of  Cali 
fornia.  He  was  killed  in  a  duel  in  Sacramento. 

When  the  First  Regimental  Organization  was 
formed  in  this  city,  the  Guard  became  Company 
"A,"  which  letter  it  has  ever  since  retained  (ex 
cept  for  a  short  period  of  time,  when  it  was 
known  as  Co.  B.  2nd  Artillery  Regiment.) 

With  the  "San  Francisco  Blues" — which  has 
since  disbanded — the  Battery  acted  as  the 
Sheriffs  posse,  and  formed  around  the  scaffold 
for  the  first  execution  in  San  Francisco,  held  on 
Russian  hill. 

In  IS-'ii,  many  members  of  the  Battery  were 
killed  and  wounded  by  the  explosion  of  the 
steamboat  "Queen  City." 

In  1857,  a  large  number  of  the  members  joined 
the  last  "Vigilance  Committee,"  and  others  the 
"  Peace  Committee,"  which  was  intsrumental 
in  bringing  about  a  peaceful  solution  of  the  dif 
ficulty  between  the  State  Government  and  the 
Vigilantes. 

When  the  late  war  broke  out,  the  Battery  was 
for  the  Union,  and  large  numbers  enlisted  and 
obtained  rank  in  the  Federal  Armies.  With 
pride,  the  present  members  refer  to  its  War 
Roll: 

General  Wm.  T.  Sherman,  U.  S.  A. 

Brevet-General  John  W.  Geary,  Brigadier- 
General  U.  S.  Volunteers. 

Brig.  Gen.  H.  M.  Naglee,  U.  S.  Vols. 

Brevet-Brig.  Gen.  Thos.  D.  Johns,  Col.  7th 
Mass.  Vol.  Infantry. 

Brevet-Brig.  Gen.  A.  Van  Horn  Ellis,  Col. 
124th  Reg.  N.  Y.  Vol.  Infantry,  killed  July  2, 
1863,  at  Gettysburg,  Pa. 

Brevet-Brig.  Gen.  Francis  Lippett,  Lieut.  Col. 
2nd  Reg.  Cal.  Vol.  Infantry. 

Brevet-Brig.  Gen.  Jas.  F.  Curtis,  Lieut.  Col. 
4th  Reg.  Cal.  Vol.  Infantry. 

Brevet-Brig.  Gen.  Greely  S.  Curtis,  Lieut.  Col. 
1st  Reg.  Mass.  Vol.  Cavalry. 

Brevet-Brig.  Gen.  Jno,  N.  Hammond,  Major 
and  Asst,  Adj.  Gen.  U,  S.  Volunteers. 

Major  D.  W.  C.  Thompson,  2nd  Mass.  Vol. 
Cavalry. 

Major  R.  B.  Hampton.  U.  S.  A. 

Major  T.  Elliott,  N.  Y.  Volunteers. 

Major  G.  Hammond.  Pa.  Volunteers. 

Major.  T.  A.  Wakeraan,  N.  Y.  Vol.  Artillery. 

Commander  L.  W.  Sloat,  U.  S.  Navy. 

Captain  R.  S.  LeMotte,  U.  S.  A. 

Captain  C.  S.  Eigenbrodt,  2nd  Mass.  Vol. 
Cavalrv,  killed  in  action  Aug.  25,  1864,  Hail- 
town,  Va. 

Captain  J.  S.  Reed,  2nd  Mass.  Vol.  Cavalry, 
killed  in  action  Feb.  22,  18(54. 

Captain  C.  Mason  Kinne,  Brev.  Maj.  and 
Asst.  Adj.  Gen.  U.  S.  Volunteers. 

Captain  (J.  S.  Watson,  U.  S.  Volunteers. 

Captain  Selim  Woodworth,  U.  S.  Navy. 

Captain  Dan.  McLean,  r.  S.  Volunteers. 

Captain  W.  E.  Hull,  V.  S.  Volunteers. 

Captain  Thad.  Mott,  U.  S.  Volunteers. 

Captain  Eli  Cook,  6th  Cal.  Vol.  Infantry. 

First  Lieut.  J.  W.  Sim,  2nd  Mass.  Vol.  Cav 
alry. 

Lieut.  A.  C.  Wakeman,  Q.  M.  Dept.  U.  S.  A. 

Lieut.  D.  T.  Berry,  U.  S.  Volunteers. 

Lieut.  John  J.  Sheppeard,  U.  S.  Volunteers. 


Lieut.  J.  Mead  Huxley,  1".  S.  Volunteers. 

Lieut.  John  Hill,  5th  Gal.  Infantry. 

Lieut.  Frank  Wheeler,  2nd  Reg.  Cal.  Vol. 
Infantry. 

Sergeant  Chas.  W.  Nystrom,  2nd  Mass.  Vol. 
Cavalry. 

Privates  Geo.  Simmons,  B.  Richards,  John 
Palmer,  —  Campbell,  and  J.  L.  Von  Bokelen. 

In  1<S»)3,  the  Hrst  California  <  iuard  was  given 
the  "Post of  Honor"  in  guarding  the  remains  of 
Col.  E.  D.  Baker,  who  fell  mortally  wounded  at 
the  head  of  his  gallant  California'  Regiment  at 
Ball's  Bluff. 

The  history  of  the  Battery  since  the  war  has 
been  the  same  as  the  other  companies  of  the 
National  Guard  ;  but  the  company  boasts  of 
having  given  the  following  eminent  officers  : 

Major  Generals— J.  P.  Havens,  J.  S.  Ellis,  H. 

A.  Cobb.  Jr.,  D.   \N7.  C.  Thompson;  Colonels— 
R.    H.    Sinton,    Archibald   Wason,  C.    Mason 
Kinne,    and  also  from  among  its  members  are 
the  following  named  gentlemen  who  have  stood 
high  in  their  professions  in  civil  life. 

John  W.  Geary,  Ex-Governor  of  California 
and  Pennsylvania,  Thos.  O.  Larkin,  1st  Alcalde 
of  San  Francisco,  P.  A.  Roach,  1st  Alcalde  of 
Monterey,  and  present  Public  Administrator  of 
San  Francisco,  Eugene  L.  Sullivan,  late  Col 
lector  of  the  Port,  A.  J.  Moulder,  Hon.  H.  H. 
Haight,  late  Governor  of  California,  Hon.  Hall 
McAllister,  Frank  Turk,  W.  T.  Coleman,  J. 
King  of  William,  Sam  Hrannan.W.  D.  M.How 
ard,  C.  K.  Garrison,  W.  C.  Ralston,  Wm.  Sher 
wood,  Albert  Dibblee,  M.  D.  Boruck,  Jos.  Dona 
hue  and  Peter  Donahue. 

The  following  have  served  as  Captains  com 
manding  the  Battery:  H.  M.  Naglee,  R.  H. 
Sinton,  E.  J.  Lippett,  F.  A.  Woodworth,  T.  D. 
Johns,  J.  S.  Ellis,  Frank  Wheeler.  Isaac  Blux- 
ome,  Jr.,  H.  J.  Pippy,  Marcus  Harloe,  W.  C. 
Burnett,  R.  G.  Brush,  Grant  Lapham  and  W. 

B.  Collier. 

The  Armory  of  the  Battery  is  now  located  at 
590  Mission  Street.  Its  armament  consists  of 
4  ten  pdr.  Parrott  guns  and  caissons  and  4 
Gatlings,  all  ready  for  immediate  service. 

After  a  hard  and  wreary  struggle,  assisted  by 
the  untiring  labors  of  Capt.  W.  B  Collier  and 
Lieut.  Geo.  Reynolds,  for  several  years,  the 
Battery  succeeded  in  lifting  the  heavy  debt  that 
hung  over  it,  and  is  now  in  a  prosperous  condi 
tion,  with  $800  in  the  General  Fund.  The 
? resent  officers  are:  Captain,  W.  T.  Sime;  1st 
-ieutenants,  Wm.  Macdonald,  John  Beatty; 
2nd  Lieutenant,  Chas.  C.  Fisher,  and  1st  Ser 
geant,  John  Elliott. 

In  the  hope  of  influencing  good  men  to  be 
come  members  of  the  Battery,  a  proposition  has 
been  made  to  organize  a  Mutual  Benefit  Fund. 

THE    CITY    GUARD. 

One  of  the  companies  formed  out  of  the  First 
California  Guard,  is  what  is  now  Co.  B.  of  the 
First  Infantry  Regiment,  San  Francisco.  It 
was  organized  March  31,  1S.~>1,  and  is  therefore 
the  oldest  infantry  Company  in  the  State.  This 
is  the  company  before  referred  to  as  disbanding 
on  account  of  dissatisfaction  with  duties  re 
quired  by  the  authorities  during  the  Vigilance 
troubles,  and  reorganizing  as  the  Independent 
City  (iuard.  It  was  re-mustered  into  the  State 
service  March  11,  1859.  Its  record  of  services 
during  its  31  years  of  existence,  is  a  long  one. 
and  space  will  permit  mention  of  only  a  part  of 
it.  It  guarded  the  jail  in  which  Casey  was  con 
fined  in  1S5<>,  from  May  15th  to  May'lSth.  On 
the  day  following  the  assassination  of  President 
Lincoln,  from  April  15th  to  April  20, 18(55,  it  was 
under  arms  and  ready  to  suppress  possible  riots. 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


539 


It  served  throughout  the  campaign  in  Amador 
county  in  1871. 

^Among  its  numbers  is  the  oldest  active  mem 
ber  of  the  N.  G.  C.,  Lieut.  L.  R,  Townsend, 
who  joined  the  First  California  Guard  in  Feb 
ruary  1854,  and  was  transferred  to  the  City 
Guard  in  April  1854. 

The  strength  of  this  company  has  varied  from 
fifty  to  seventy  members;  but  at  the  begin 
ning  of  the  rebellion  it  grew  to  one  hundred  and 
twenty  members.  The  following  gentlemen 
have  served  as  its  Captains:  J.  A.  Clark,  G.  F. 
Watson,  Chas.  Doaiie,  W.  C.  Little,  G.  W. 
Granniss,  Douglas  Gunn,  Chalmers  Scott,  T.  J. 
Johnson,  David  Wilder,  H.  A.  Plate,  J.  H. 
Dickinson,  E.  F.  Selleck,  S.  J.  Taylor  and  Geo. 
R.  Burdick.  The  company  is  justly  proud  of 
its  membership  and  history. 

FRANKLIN    LIGHT    INFANTRY. 

This  is  another  of  the  companies  antedating 
the  civil  war.  It  was  organized  in  the  early 
part  of  1861,  with  Valentine  Dreschcr  as  Cap 
tain.  He,  with  all  of  his  command  but  seven 
members,  entered  the  Federal  service.  The 
remnant  successfully  reorganized  the  company 
in  June  of  that  year,  under  the  name  which 
heads  the  sketch.  It  was  lettered  "E  of  the 
First  Artillery  Battalion"  (afterwards  Regi 
ment).  It  became  Company  C  of  the  2nd  In 
fantry,  when  that  regimejit  was  organized,  and 
in  1870  was  transferred  to  the  First  Infantry 
regiment  as  Company  D,  its  present  designation. 

It  was  principally  organized  from  the  printers 
and  compositors  on  the  city  newspapers ; 
Captain  (afterwards  General)  McComb,  being 
connected  with  the  Alta. 

A  detail  of  eleven  men  from  this  company 
served  during  the  Amador  troubles  in  1871. 
During  the  disturbances  of  July  1877,  an  average 
of  53  men  from  this  company  reported  every 
night  that  it  was  ordered  on  duty.  It  formed 
the  escort  to  the  arms  sent  at  that  time  to  the 
City  Hall.  It  won  the  first  prize  for  drill  at  the 
Sacramento  Fair  in  1878.  Since  then  it  has 
given  numerous  exhibitory  drills  and  taken 
several  prizes.  It  holds  and  deserves  a  fine 
reputation  as  a  well-drilled  company.  Among 
its  members,  the  following  have  been  long  in 
the  service : 

Corporal  A.  R.  McFarlane  enlisted  in  June 
1864;  Corporal  M.  J.  Myers,  July  1864;  Capt. 
V.  Kingwell,  April  1865;  Sergeant  H.  A.  Perry, 
Feb.  1874,  and  E.  J.  Selleck,  July  1874.  The 
company  now  numbers  66. 

The  following  have  been  its  Captains :  John 
McComb,  Wm.  O.  Breyfogle.  Fred  W.  Pierce, 
R.  H.  Orton,  E.  A.  Allen,  S.  F.  Wentworth,  G. 
D.  Harvey  and  Vincent  Kingwell. 

COMPANY  F,    FIRST  INFANTRY. 

Co.  F.  First  Infantry,  organized  Nov.  12,  1858, 
under  the  name  of  the  "Light  Guard,"  making 
it  the  fourth  oldest  Company  in  the  N.  G.  C., 
Captain  Eli  Cook  was  the  first  captain.  For 
years  after  this  company  was  organized,  it  was 
the  pride  of  the  militia,  never  parading  less 
than  one  hundred  men.  Its  first  armory  was 
on  Market  Street  opposite  where  the  Palace 
Hotel  now  stands.  Among  the  officers  of  the 
old  company  were  such  men  as  Hon.  Alex. 
Badlam,  A.  D.  Barker,  and  other  prominent 
men.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  a  large 
number  of  the  members  of  the  Light  Guard, 
joined  the  California  troops,  and  all  distin 
guished  themselves  by  their  bravery  on  the 
field,  many  rising  to  important  offices.  Of  all 
the  N.  G.  C.  companies  represented  in  the  U.  S. 
Volunteers  during  the  war,  the  largest  number 


of  promotions  was  accorded  to  former  members 
of  Co.  F. 

In  1866,  the  company  was  attached  to  the 
First  Infantry  and  designated  as  Co.  F.  Since 
then,  the  company  has  steadily  maintained  its 
position  as  one  of  the  foremost  companies  in 
the  service,  and  of  late  years  it  has  been  noted 
for  its  contributing  some  of  the  most  efficient 
officers  that  have  served  in  the  State  troops, 
among  whom  may  be  mentioned  the  late  Lieut. 
Col.  Geo.  M.  Gaylord,  without  doubt  the  best 
officer  ever  in  the  service.  Capt.  Henry  Levy, 
now  in  the  Third  Infantry,  Lieut.  Col.  L.  L. 
Bromwell,  Major  Geo.  W.  Reed,  Major  J.  P. 
Clark,  Capt.  C.  F.  Holyoke,  Lieut.  W.  H.  Mc- 
Clintock,  Lieut.  W.  M.  Cavanaugh,  Col.  W.  C. 
Little,  Capt.  Geo.  Teller  and  many  others.  In 
18SO,  the  Company  moved  to  the  lower  floor  of 
the  National  Guard  building  on  Post  Street, 
from  the  Regimental  Armory,  and  fitted  up  its 
new  quarters  in  an  elegance  unequaled  by  any 
Company  in  the  State,  a  piano,  billiard  table 
and  first  class  gymnasium  being  among  its  pos 
sessions.  On  Aug.  1,  1885,  Co.  E.  First  In 
fantry,  was  mustered  into  this  company,  bring 
ing  the  membership  up  to  nearly  130  men,  the 
second  largest  company  in  the  State.  The 
present  officers  are  Geo.  Teller.  Capt;  P.  S. 
Teller,  First  Lieut;  G.  W.  Longley.  Second 
Lieut;  E.  J.  Longley,  First  Sergeant/ 

COMPANY    G,    FIRST    INFANTRY. 

Of  the  more  recently  organized  companies  of 
the  same  regiment,  is  Company  G,  which  in  its 
present  form  was  organized  May  10,  1882.  The 
present  officers  are  Chas.  L.  Tilden,  Captain;  H. 
W.  Adams,  First  Lieutenant;  Wm  .Sumner, 
Second  Lieutenant.  This  company  contains  the 
senior  First  Sergeant  of  the  regiment,  Chas.  E. 
Thompson.  Its  first  Captain  was  Charles  P. 
LeBreton,  one  of  the  best  tacticians  in  the  N. 
G.  C.  This  company  has  a  well  furnished 
armory  on  Post  street,  and  the  monthly  socials 
held  there  have  achieved  for  the  company  quite 
a  local  reputation  as  a  social  body  of  gentle 
men. 

COMPANY     H,  FIRST    INFANTRY. 

This  company  was  organized  August  4, 
1869,  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  mustering 
out  of  the  California  Tigers.  It  began  its  exist 
ence  with  about  sixty  members.  Its  first  Cap 
tain  was  R.  G.  Gilmore,  who  was  succeeded 
by  J.  V.  Spader,  and  his  successor  is  the  pres 
ent  Captain,  H.  P.  Bush,  who  has,  it  seems,  been 
longer  in  continuous  official  servce  in  the  N.  G. 
C.  than  any  other  officer.  The  First  Lieutenant, 
W.  H.  Fraser,  and  Second  Lieutenant,  J.  M. 
Duncan,  have  been  with  the  company  since  it 
was  formed,  and  all  the  non-commissioned  offi 
cers  are  old  members  of  the  company. 

At  present  Company  H  numbers  sixty  men, 
and  is  one  of  the  best  equipped  in  the  National 
Guard.  It  has  a  complete  camping  outfit,  and 
its  armory  room  is  handsomely  furnished  with 
pictures,  piano,  and  in  other  ways  made  a  com 
fortable  place  of  meeting.  The  social  character 
of  its  members  have  made  this  company,  when 
in  camp,  famous  for  its  open-handed  hospitality. 

THE   THIRD    INFANTRY. 

The  Third  Regiment  was  organized  in  March, 
1862,  by  Major  Thomas  L.  Cazneau.  Some  of 
the  companies  comprised  in  it  were  organized 
much  earlier.  The  first,  the  Montgomery  Guards 
organized  in  December,  1859,  became  Com 
pany  A.  Company  B  was  the  MacMahon 
Guards,  organized  in  1860.  In  1861  the  Shields 
Guards  was  organized.  These  three  companies 


540 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


then  organized  into  a  battalion,  electing  Thos. 
L.  Ca/noau  as  Major.  In  1802  the  Invincibles, 
(Company  D)  organized,  and  almost  immedi 
ately  changed  their  names  to  the  Wolf  Tone 
» ;  tta'rds.  Next  came  the  Meagher  Guards,  Com 
pany  E.  About  the  same  time  a  Petaluma  com 
pany,  the  Emmet  Rifles  (Company  F)  was  or 
ganized,  with  Thomas  F.  Baylisa  as  Captain. 
The  Sarsfleld  Guards  of  Benicia,  constiuted 
Company  <i  ;  the  Emmet  Guards  was  Company 
H,  and  the  Hugh  O'Neil  Guards  was  Company 
K,  of  what  then  grew  from  the  battalion  to  be 
the  Second  Regiment  of  the  California  State 
Militia.  The  regimental  headquarters  were  on 
the  corner  of  Jackson  and  Front  streets.  In 
1 •" ;  I  they  were  moved  to  the  south  side  of  Mar 
ket  street,  opposite  Sansome,  where  the  regi 
ment  remained  until  it  was  mustered  out  of  the 
State  service  in  October  1866.  Four  companies 
— the  Montgomery,  Wolf  Tone,  Meagher  and 
Shields  Guards — then  formed  an  independent 
battalion,  and  elected  Archibald  Wason,  Major 
in  command.  The  battalion  used  the  old  regi 
mental  armory,  and  in  a  short  time  fire  de 
stroyed  the  building  and  all  its  contents,  leaving 
the  battalion  without  arms  or  uniforms.  Major 
Winters,  who  succeeded  Major  Wason,  exerted 
himself,  raised  money  for  new  arms  and  uni 
forms,  and  with  his  enthusiasm  and  work  kept 
the  battalion  together.  On  February  22,  1808, 
Gov.  Haight  mustered  the  battalion  into  the 
National  Guard.  In  May,  1868,  the  Emmet 
Guards  was  mustered  in.  In  1870,  the  Mc- 
Mahon  Guards  was  mustered  in,  and  completed 
a  regiment.  Wason  became  Colonel,  Bateman, 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  John  J.  Conlin  was 
elected  Major. 

In  1880,  the  Emmet  Guards  withdrew.  Five 
months  later  the  Colonel  and  his  staff  were 
niustered  out.  In  1882,  an  independent  3d  reg 
iment  was  again  formed,  with  Harry  T.  Ham 
mond  (since  dead)  as  Colonel,  William  Corcoran 
as  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  John  T.  Conlin  as 
Major.  The  independent  organization  was 
maintained  until  after  Governor  Stoneman 
took  his  seat,  and,  in  April,  1883,  he  mustered 
it  back  into  the  National  Guard.  At  present, 
the  regiment  is  organized  as  follows:  Colonel, 
Robert  Tobin;  Lieutenant-Colonel,  P.  Boland; 
Major,  Thos.  F.  Barry;  Surgeon,  F.  B.  Kane; 
Chaplain,  Rev.  J.  E.  Cottle;  Inspector  Rifle 
Practice,  J.  J.  O'Brien;  Pavmaster,  B.  P.  Oli 
ver;  Ordnance  Officer,  R.  P.  Hammond,  Jr. ; 
Quartermaster,  W.  D.  Lawton;  Commissary, 
Jas.  C.  Dunphy;  Adjutant,  P.  M.  Delany. 

Captains,  Robert  Cleary,  Thos.  Drady,  Hen 
ry  Levy,  J.C.  O'Conner,  M.  McCormick,  J.  C. 
Smith;  Second-Lieut.,  J.  W.  Warren;  Captain, 
D.  J.  Driscoll. 

THE   EMMET   GUARD. 

The  following  is  compiled  from  the  account 
furnished  us  by  Capt.  Robert  Cleary : 

This  company  was  organized  in  November 
1862,  by  a  split  from  the  Shield's  Guard,  Co.  C, 
2nd  Regiment,  and  was  admitted  into  the  ser 
vice  on  the  above  date.  Michael  Coonan  was 
elected  Capt.,  Patrick  Redding,  First  Lieut., 
Thos.  O'Neil  and  John  O'Brien  Second  Lieuts. 
Since  then  the  captains  of  the  company  have 
been  Michael  Coonan,  Thos.  O'Neil  and  Rpbt. 
Cleary,  the  latter  having  served  as  such  since 
May  15,  18G8. 

The  present  officers  are  Robt.  Cleary,  Capt., 
Daniel  Foley,  First  Lieut.,  and  M.  J.  Bolger, 
Second  Lieut. 

In  October  180G,  the  company  was  mustered 
out  of  the  State  service,  together  with  the  entire 
Regiment.  The  members  became  scattered 
through  four  companies  of  the  old  regiment. 


On  May  15,  1868,  shortly  after  ihe  formation 
of  the  First  Infantry  Battalion,  the  Emmet 
(iuard  was  re-admitted  into  the  State  service 
and  was  assigned  the  letter  E.  With  some  $300 
collected  back  claims  due  the  old  company  from 
the  State,  we  commenced  again,  not  having  as 
much  as  a  fatigue  cap.  On  the  4th  of  July, 
1868,  our  company  paraded  48  muskets  in  full 
U.  S.  Regulation  uniforms,  and  on  the  17th  of 
March,  1869,  paraded  55  men  in  full  company 
uniform ;  green  swallow-tail  coats,  white  facing's 
and  epaulettes,  black  bear-skin  hats  and  blue 
pants  with  white  stripes,  which  style  of  uniform 
continued  to  be  worn  up  to  1874,  when  the  reg 
iment  adopted  the  regulation  one;  but  our 
green  coats  were  always  worn  in  company  pa 
rades. 

The  company,  with  the  regiment,  spent  three 
days  at  Brigade  Camp  Schofield  in  1875.  In 
that  year,  the  company  received  and  enter 
tained  the  Emmet  Guard  of  Virginia,  Nev.  In 
1878,  the  company  went  to  Sacramento  to  par 
ticipate  in  the  encampment  and  competition 
drill  held  there  during  the  State  Fair. 

In  1879  the  company  returned  the  visit  of  the 
E'mmet  Guards,  of  Nevada,  remaining  a  week. 

In  Nov.  1880,  owing  to  difficulties  between  the 
Battalion  commander  and  the  company  com 
mander,  the  company  was  mustered  out,  and 
the  whole  regiment  soon  after  becoming  an 
independent  organization. 

After  Gov.  Stoneman's  election,  the  regiment 
being  re-admitted  as  the  Third  Infantry,  our 
company  became  Co.  A.  This  was  April  18, 
1883.  A  year  or  more  previous,  the  Emmet 
(>\  ard  and  several  other  companies  formed  an 
independent  regiment  with  Harry  T.  Hammond 
as  Colonel — not  long  from  the  U.  S.  Army. 
The  regiment  early  learned  to  love  and  respect 
him,  and  deeply  regretted  that  he  did  not  live 
to  see  his  regiment  a  constituent  of  the  N.  G.  C. 

After  long  years  of  service  in  the  military  of 
San  Francisco,  I  can  state  that  I  feel  prouder  of 
the  old  Third  than  I  ever  did  before,  for  the 
manner  in  which  it  is  governed,  and  I  consider 
it  the  equal,  if  not  the  superior,  of  any  regiment 
in  the  State  service  to-day. 

COMPANY    G,  THIRD    INFANTRY. 

This  is  instanced  as  a  representative  company 
of  young  men. 

During  February  of  the  present  year,  a  num 
ber  of  young  gentlemen  conceived  the  idea  of 
forming  a  military  organization  which  should 
be  composed  exclusively  of  young  men.  The 
preliminary  meeting  was  held  at  the  armory  of 
the  Third  "Regiment,  at  which  fifteen  persons 
attended,  with  D.  J.  Driscoll  acting  as  chair 
man.  At  this  meeting  a  committee  was  ap 
pointed  to  nominate  members — and  a  canvass 
instituted.  The  result  of  this  action  was  that 
in  two  weeks  fifty  names  were  on  the  roll.  On 
March  3d,  the  following  officers  were  elected: 
Capt.,  D.  J.  Driscoll;  First  Lieut., S.  J.  Ruddell; 
Second  Lieut.,  T.  J.  Morse.  Through  the  efforts 
of  Col.  Robt.  Tobin,  the  company  became  a 
part  of  the  Third  Regiment  as  Co.  G  Cadet 
Corps,  the  old  cadet  company  consolidating 
witli  the  new  to  raise  the  company  to  the  num 
ber  required  by  law. 

The  officers  at  once  set  the  standard  of  excel 
lence  by  passing  a  very  creditable  examination, 
for  which  they  received  special  praise  from  the 
Brigade  Examining  Board.  On  April  30th  the 
members  gave  their  first  entertainment  and  hop 
at  Saratoga  Hall.  This  was  so  much  enjoyed 
that  at  the  request  of  many  friends  they  gave 
a  second  successful  party  at  the  same  place,  on 
Nov.  19th.  In  July  last  Co.  G  was  raised  to  a 
full  company.  The  number  of  men  on  the  roll 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


is  62.  The  officers  are  as  follows  :  Capt.,  D.  J. 
Driscoll:  First  Lieut.,  S.  J.  Ruddell;  Second 
Lieut.,  T.  . I.  Morse :Rec.  Sec.,  W.  V.  White;  Fin. 
Sec.,  J.  W.  Dermody;  Treas.,  W.  S.  Thurgood. 

COMPANY    E,  SFCOND  ARTILLERY. 

Another  promising  company,  of  compara 
tively  recent  organization,  is  Company  E, 
which  dates  from  July  16,  1882.  It  was  formed 
to  fill  a  vacancjr  left  by  mustering  out  another 
company.  Its  first  arid  present  captain  is  Jo 
seph  T.  Donovan  ;  the  other  commissioned  offi 
cers  are  Jno.  H.  Flynn,  First  Lieut.,  and  T.  J. 
Desmond,  Second  Lieut.  The  company  has 
grown  from  47  men  to  73  men,  and  is  now  fully 
uniformed  and  equipped.  They  have  lately 
moved  into  new  quarters,  which  they  are  fitting 
up  in  handsome  style. 

COMPANY    H,   SECOND   ARTILLERY. 

This  company  was  organized  Aug.  7,  1863,  as 
the  San  Francisco  Cadets,  Co.  K,  First  Artillery 
under  C.  E.  S.  McDonald,  Capt  ;  Geo.  Wood, 
First  Lieut;  H.  J.  Davis,  and  J.  M.  Greenlaw, 
Second  Lieutenants. 

Upon  the  reorganization  of  the  militia  in 
1866,  the  company  became  H,  of  the  Second 
Infantry.  This  is  the  company  already  referred 
to,  as  exhibiting  the  blindfold  drill  in  Eastern 
cities.  Captain  McDonald  had  arranged  a  fancy 
Zouave  drill  compiled  from  'he  tactics  ofjHardee, 
Casey,  McClellan,  and  Monstree.  On  Aug.  12, 
1873,  the  company  left  for  the  East.  In  New 
York  it  was  the  guest  of  the  famous  "Seventh." 
Its  exhibitions  became  celebrated  at  once;  invi 
tations  crowded  upon  them ;  the  principal  cities 
were  visited,  and  large  crowds  attended  their 
performances.  On  their  return  they  were  re 
ceived  with  military  honors. 

During  the  centennial  year,  Ex-Capt.  Mc 
Donald  trained  and  drilled  a  band  of  Indians, 
and  appeared  in  all  the  prominent  cities  of  the 
United  States;  he  also  appeared  before  the 
crowned  heads  of  Europe.  Capt.  McDonald 
was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  First  Califor 
nia  Guard. 

Company  H  won  a  competitive  drill  at 
Sacramento,  and  also  (under  the  present  Capt. 
Waters)  the  contest  for  the  U.  S.  championship 
in  the  Manual  of  Arms,  held  in  1866  at  the  old 
American  Theatre. 

Co.  H  has  given  benefit  drills  at  various  times, 
an  exhibition  blindfold  drill  before  King  Kal- 
akau,  and  at  present  has  a  Drill  Corps  of  six 
teen  men  under  Lieutenant  Thos.  F.  O'Neil, 
which  challenges  any  similar  organization  in 
the  State. 

During  the  excitement  over  the  news  of  Lin 
coln's  assassination,  the  company  was  on  duty 
for  two  days  and  nights. 

In  1877,  Co.  H  was  on  duty  whenever  called, 
and  was  specially  detailed  by  Gen.  McComb  as 
an  escort  to  the  guns  from  the  Pavilion  to  the 
old  City  Hall.  On  Gen.  McComb's  retirement 
from  the  Second  Brigade,  the  company,  at  a 
banquet,  presented  him  with  an  elegant  gold 
headed  cane. 

This  company  has  encamped  at  Camp  Scho- 
field,  in  1875,  at  Camp  McComb,  Santa  Barbara, 
in  1878;  at  Camp  Murphy,  in  Los  Angeles  City 
Gardens,  Oct.  '79;  at  Camp  Dana,  San  Luis 
Obispo  county,  in  Aug.  1881;  and  at  Camp 
Stoneman  this  year,  having  a  daily  average  at 
the  latter  camp,  of  fifty  men. 

Capt.  McDonald's  successor  was  Capt.  Bigley, 
whose  record  of  faithful  and  conscientious  ser 
vice  deserves  remark.  He  enlisted  in  18(53,  and 
for  over  nineteen  years  was  an  active  member 
of  the  company,  and  a  commissioned  officer  for 
over  thirteen  years. 


The  present  officers  of  the  company  are :  Win 
D.  Waters,  Capt;  Jas.  W.  Reinfeld,  First  Lieut; 
and  Thos.  F.  O'Neil,  Second  Lieutenant. 

CADET   CORPS,  SECOND  ARTILLERY. 

This  was  formed  February  1,  1882,  at  the  San 
Francisco  Boys'  High  School,  with  61  members, 
all  of  the  school.  The  Captain  was  Wm.  C. 
Sharpstein.  After  drilling  five  months,  they 
stood  a  very  creditable  competitive  drill  at 
Oakland  Park,  with  the  St.  Patrick  Cadets,  the 
older  company  beating  them  by  but  two  points. 

In  November,  they  were  made  a  battalion  of 
four  companies,  Captain  Sharpstein  becoming 
Major.  In  August,  1883,  about  forty  men  be 
ing  transferred  to  Company  G,  the  battalion 
was  again  made  a  company,  with  C.  A.  Davis 
as  Captain.  After  his  death,  two  months  later, 
Emmet  Rixford  was  made  Captain,  who  re 
signed  April  6, 1885.  Previous  to  this,  the  com 
pany  was  again  organized  as  a  battalion. 

The  successor  of  Capt.  Rixford,  Capt.  R.  S. 
Atkins,  is,  at  present,  in  charge  of  the  organiza 
tion,  with  Gailiard  Storey  as  First  Lieut.,  and 
Walter  W.  Kaufman  as  Second  Lieut. 

COMPANY  A,  FIFTH  INFANTRY. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  late  war,  Oakland  de 
termined  to  form  a  military  company  for  possi 
ble  service  for  the  Union  in  this  State.  Among 
the  citizens  who  were  the  original  promoters 
and  organizers  of  the  Oakland  Guard  \vere 
Wm.  Hoskins,  Jerry  Tyrrell,  Jas.  Brown,  Har 
ry  N.  Morse,  John  Potter,  Chas.  McKay,  Hen 
ry  Hillebrand,  W.  W.  Crane,  Jack  Orr,  C.  H. 
Ellis,  Geo.  Carleton,  Alfred  W.  Burrell,  H.  H. 
Burrell,  Chas.  Reed,  and  about  sixty  others. 
The  Company  was  organized  and  mustered  into 
the  State  Militia  June  10,  1861,  and  Jas.  Brown 
was  elected  the  first  Captain.  Following  him 
in  office  were  Harry  N.  Morse,  W.  C.  Little, 
Alfred  W.  Burrell,  Horace  D.  Ranlett,  Henry 
Levy,  Albert  L.  Smith,  Thos.  H.  Thompson, 
and  Gilbert  B.  Daniels,  the  present  Captain. 
The  present  First  Lieut,  is  J.  A.  C.  McDonald, 
and  Second  Lieut,  is  Geo.  C.  Pardee. 

The  Company  for  some  ten  years  past,  has 
given  special  attention  to  rifle  practice,  particu 
larly  under  the  administration  of  Capt.  Ran 
lett, 

In  1879,  being  equal  to  any  in  the  State,  it 
won  matches  with  the  Roxbury  City  Guard, 
Mass.,  and  at  Sacramento  in  1879,  with  seven 
State  companies. 

The  Company  was  on  duty  during  the  troub 
les  in  1877,  being  the  first  company  called  un 
der  arms  at  that  time.  It  also  served  in  1878  at 
a  similar  juncture. 

It  is  now  one  of  the  solid,  well  organized 
companies  of  tiie  State. 

COMPANY  B,  FIFTH  INFANTRY. 

This  was  organized  early  in  the  war  as  the 
San  Jose  Zouaves.  After  being  attached  to  the 
Fifth  Infantry  Battalion,  it  was  in  1879  re-or 
ganized  in  its  membership,  and  for  the  past 
three  years  has  held  a  high  reputation  from 
both  a  social  and  military  point  of  view.  Its 
officers  are:  Capt.,  Albert  K.  Whitton;  First 
Lieut.,  T.  F.  Morrison;  Second  Lieut.,  Alva  W. 
Ingalls. 

COMPANY  C,  FIFTH  INFANTRY. 

Aii  enthusiastic  company  of  the  "  Dandy 
Fifth,"  as  it  is  now  called,  is  Company  C,  which 
was  organized  June  29,  1869,  with  James  Arm 
strong,  Captain,  commanding  under  the  name 
of  Hewston  Guards.  It  continued  under  this 
name  until  the  early  part  of  1882,  when  it  be 
came  part  of  the  Fifth  Battalion. 


542 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


Shortly  after,  a  large  number  of  the  young 
men  of  Petaluma  joined  the  Company,  who  re 
placing  the  former  members,  gradually  worked 
the  Company  to  an  excellent  position/ 

The  present  officers  are  :  Captain.  1).  B.  Fair 
banks;  First  Lieut.,  G.  W.  Xartman;  Second 
Lieut. ,  Joseph  Naylor. 

In  this  company  particular  attention  is  given 
to  Target  Practice.  At  the  Regimental  Match 
at  Camp  Stoneman,  Aug.  17,  '8.">,  Co.  C  \von  the 
first  pri/e,  averaging  80  per  cent.,  ten  men 
shooting  in  each  team.  The  company  has  fitted 
up  fine  ranges,  and  practice-shooting  is  contin 
ually  indulged  in. 

They  are  in  possession  of  commodious  quar 
ters,  well  furnished,  and  have  a  complete  supply 
of  clothing  of  all  kinds,  and  \yere  probably  one 
of  the  best  equipped  companies  that  went  into 
camp  at  Santa  Cruz. 

Though  for  many  years  it  was  the  only  com 
pany  north  of  San  Francisco,  and  not  far  dis 
tant,  it  has  never  been  called  to  arms  but  once 
and  then  from  a  rumored  outbreak  at  San 
Quentin,  which  proved  a  false  alarm. 

It  has  a  membership  at  this  writing,  of  03 
enlisted  men. 

COMPANY   1),  FIFTH  1NFANTUY. 

This  Company,  located  at  San  Rafael,  was 
organized  under  its  present  name  on  May  14th 
of  this  year.  It  supplied  the  place  of  the  Yalle- 
jo  Company  I),  wnich  was  mustered  out  the 
month  before. 

This  Company  has  a  membership  of  about  70 
men;  about  fifty  of  whom  were  in  attendance 
at  Camp  Stoneman.  It  has  had  a  brief  but 
lively  existence  under  its  Captain,  Jos.  B. 
Lauck.  Its  First  Lieut,  is  J.  1).  Lawton;  its 
Second  Lieut,  is  Win.  Elliott. 

COMPANY  E,  FIFTH  INFANTRY. 

This  is  a  very  newly   organized   company   at 

Santa    Rosa,  dating   only  "from   June    10,1885. 

. i'tain  was  s.  I.  Allen,  but  it  is,  at  present, 

under  the  command  of   Lieutenant  L.  W.  Juil- 

liard,  and  promises  to  be  a  fine  company. 

COMPANY  F,  FIFTH  INFANTKY. 

Previous  to  August,  1885,  this  was  known  as 
iht-  Oakland  Light  Cavalry.  It  was  organized 
in  ls77.  under  Captain  W.  C.  Little.  For  five 
or  six  years,  it  has  been  one  of  the  best  com 
panies' in  the  State.  Its  present  officers  are : 
Captain,  George  B.  Flint;  First  Lieut.,  A.  M. 
Boyden.and  Second  Lieut.,  J.  L.  1'arsons. 

COMPANY    F.,    FIIiST    UITII.LERY. 

Of  the  Sacramento  Companies,  Companv  K 
was  organized  in  Camptonville,  Yuba  Co.,  Cal,, 
where  for  twenty-one  years  it  was  under  the 
command  of  Capt.  J.  P.  Brown,  and  during 
the  year  1881,  won  from  the  State  a  beautiful 
gold  medal  offered  to  the  N.  G.  C.  for  the  best 
Companv  attendance  for  that  year. 

Camptonville  being  largely* a  mining  town, 
and  the  mining  interests  having  declined  in 
that  locality,  during  the  last  few  years,  Capt. 
Brown,  who  had  been  engaged  for  a  generation 
or  more  in  Yuba  Co,  as  a  hanker,  found  it  liec- 
essary  to  make  a  change. 

Feeling  that  the  company  could  not  be  well 
-ii>tained  any  longer,  he  asked  to  have  it  mus 
tered  out  of  the  service,  which  was  done. 
Within  a  few  weeks,  however.  Capt.  Fred  F.i*- 


enminger,  then  in  command  of  a  Sacramenio 
Cadet  Co.,  attached  to  the  First  Artillery  Regi 
ment,  organized  a  new  company  in  Nov.,  ivs:;. 
in  Sacramento,  which  was  promptly  mustered 
into  the  service,  and  thereafter  known  as  Com 
pany  F,  First  Artillery  Regiment.  The  first 
officers  of  this  new  company  were  Fred  Kisen- 
minger.  Captain;  ('has.  Lovell,  First  Lieut.; 
Chas.  L.  Fonteneau,  Second  Lieut.  Capt.  Fred 
Kisenminger  having  resigned  in  Oct.,  1884,  he 
was  succeeded  by  the  present  incumbent,  who 
was  then  First  Lieut,  of  Company  A,  First  Ar 
tillery  Regiment. 

The  officers  of  the  Company  at  present  an-: 
H.W.  Einstock,  Captain;  Geo.'W.  Satford.  First 
Lieut. ;  ('has.  L.  Fonteneau,  Second  Lieut. 
Company  K  has  seventy  names  on  its  muster 
roll,  and  is  in  a  strong,  healthy  condition. 

THE     FORSYTHK    QUABDS. 

This  is  one  of  the  newest  companies  in  the 
service.  It  was  organized  at  Fresno  on  the  13th 
of  June,  1885,  and  mustered  into  the  service  in 
of  the  State  a  few  days  later. 

The  following  officers  were  elected  by  this 
company:  M.  W.  Muller,  Capt;  S.  S.  Wright, 
First  Lieut;  O.  J.  Meade,  Second  Lieut.  The 
company  comprises  representatives  from  many 
trades  and  professions.  The  legal  profession  is 
represented  by  six  members,  and  the  medical 
by  two.  The  company  commenced  special 
preparations  for  the  Santa  Cruz  encampment 
with  great  enthusiasm,  being  well  represented 
at  several  drills,  each  week  during  the  six  weeks 
preceding  the  15th  of  August.  Forty-three  of 
the  company  were  on  the  ground  at  Santa  Cruz 
where  they  received  many  encomiums  for  rapid 
progress. 

They  voted  the  Santa  Cruz  encampment  a 
grand  success,  and  another  like  encampment 
would,  no  doubt,  find  them  present.  The  For- 
sythe  Guards  were  among  the  number  of  those 
who  forsook  the  tripe  pots  of  the  camp  and 
sought  a  moregenereus  allowance  of  grub  at 
the  restaurants  in  Santa  Cruz.  The  weekly  drills 
are  kept  up  by  a  fair  attendance.  When  any 
special  event  requires  the  attendance  of  the 
Guards,  they  are  generally  well  represented  in 
full  uniform,  and  bearing  aloft  the  beautiful  flag 
which  Col.  Forsythe  (for  whom  the  company 
was  named)  generously  presented  to  them. 

THE    SAN    FRANCISCO     Hl'SSAUS    (r  N  ATTACH  !•:!>). 

The  first  company  from  which  finally  origin 
ated  the  San  Francisco  Hussars,  was  the  Citi 
zen's  Dragoons,  organized  directly  after  the 
Vigilance  troubles  in  18.*!. 

In  about  three  years  this  companv  was  re 
organized  as  the  Black  Hussars,  At  the  begin 
ning  of  the  civil  war  this  name  was  changed  to 
that  which  it  now  holds— the  San  Francisco 
Hussars. 

Its  first  Captain  after  it  was  finally  reorgan 
ized,  was  Captain  Broad.  Succeeding  him  wa- 
Captain  Seymour.  Then  followed  Capt.  Broad 
again,  and'  then  1).  A.  McDonald.  His  suc 
cessor  was  Captain  J.  Schreiber,  who  wa> 
followed  November  I'M.  l*7ii,  by  the  present 
Captain  C.  C.  Keene. 

Captain  Keene  joined  the  Hussars  in  l^'il. 
in  the  following  year  became  Second  Lieutenant 
of  the  company,  and  afterwards  became  First 
Lieutenant,  which  place  he  held  until  he  became 
Captain.  His  official  service  is  therefore  one  of 
the  longest  in  the  National  Guard. 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


543 


REPRESENTATIVE    RECORDS    IN    THE   NATIONAL   GUARD. 


GOVERNOR  GEORGE  STONEMAN. 

By  virtue  of  his  office,  Governor  Stoneman  is 
Commander-in-Chief  of  the  National  Guard  of 
California.  He  was  born  the  8th  of  August,  1822 
at  Busti,  Chatauqua  county,  New  York.  He 
entered  West  Point  on  the  ist  of  July,  1842,  grad 
uating  four  years  later,  being  breveted  Second 
Lieutenant  of  the  First  Dragoons,  stationed  at 
Fort  Leavenworth,  Kansas.  During  the  war  with 
Mexico  he  was  ordered  to  San  Diego,  California, 
and  was  A.  A.  Q.  of  the  Mormon  Battalion,  ar 
riving  at  the  Mission  San  Diego  in  January,  1847. 
He  was  commissioned  Second  Lieutenant  in  July, 
1847,  and  during  1848-9  commanded  the  post  in 
San  Francisco  at  the  Presidio.  He  was  engaged 
in  all  the  Indian  wars  on  this  Coast  until  1854, 
when  he  was  commissioned  First  Lieutenant.  In 
the  following  year  he  was  made  Captain,  and 
stationed  at  Camp  Cooper,  in  Texas.  His  pro 
motion  to  Major  occurred  at  Washington,  where 
he  was  stationed  in  the  spring  of  1861 .  For  good 
work  in  the  cavalry  service  he  was  made  Brigadier 
General  and  chief  of  the  cavalry  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac.  He  took  part  m  the  thirty  days'  siege 
of  Vorktown,  .Vtechanicsville,  Fredericksburg,  in 
1863,  being  made  Major  General.  From  July, 
1863,  to  January,  1864,  he  was  Chief  of  the  Cav 
alry  Bureau  at  Washington.  In  March  of  the 
same  year  he  was  made  Lieutenant  Colonel  of  the 
Third  Cavalry,  and  on  the  3Oth  of  July  was  taken 
prisoner  and  sent  to  Andersonville,  being  ex 
changed  in  October  following.  After  this  he  was 
in  active  service  until  the  close  of  the  war,  doing 
splendid  execution  and  breveted  Major  General, 
the  close  of  the  rebellion  finding  him  in  command 
of  the  Department  of  Tennessee.  General  Stone 
man  remained  in  the  regular  army  until  June, 
1871,  when  he  resigned  and  was  on  the  retired  list 
of  the  army  when  elected  Governor,  and  came  to 
California.  He  has  since  occupied  the  position 
of  Indian  Agent,  Railroad  Commissioner  and  in 
1882  was  elected  Governor  by  a  handsome  ma 
jority. 

ADJUTANT    GENERAL    GEO.    B.    COSBY. 

General  Cosby,  the  Adjutant  General  of  this 
State,  relieved  Adjutant  General  J.  F.  Sheehan  in 
January,  1883,  having  been  appointed  by  Govern 
or  Stoneman.  He  is  a  graduate  of  West  Point, 
having  been  appointed  from  Kentucky,  and  enter 
ed  the  army  as  Brevet  Second  Lieutenant  of 
Mounted  Rifles  in  July,  1852;  he  was  commission 
ed  Second  Lieutenant  in  1853  and  transferred  to 
the  Second  Cavalry  in  March,  1855;  he  became 
First  Lieutenant  in  May,  1856,  and  Captain  on 
the  Qth  day  of  May,  1861.  The  following  day, 
May  loth,  he  resigned  from  the  army  and  joined 
the  Confederate  forces,  rising  to  the  rank  of  Brig 
adier  General,  and  at  the  battle  of  Red  River  suc 
cessfully  combating  General  Bank's  forces.  Gen 
eral  Cosby  came  to  California  soon  after  the  war 
closed,  and  before  his  appointment  as  Adjutant 
General  was  chief  clerk  in  the  State  Engineer's 
office.  He  is  a  gentleman  of  most  genial  disposi 
tion  and  has  many  personal  friends. 


COLONEL    A.    ANDREWS. 

The  present  Paymaster  General  and  consequent 
ly  a  member  of  the  general  staff  of  Governor 
Stoneman,  was  born  April  7th,  1826,  in  London. 
He  came  when  a  child  to  New  Orleans,  and  iu 
1846  enlisted  in  the  U.S.  army  for  the  Mexican 
war,  as  a  lieutenant.  Then  he  became  Captain  of 
Company  A,  2nd  Ohio.  Thence  he  joined  Gener 
al  Lane's  staff  in  which  he  served  till  the  close  of 
the  war. 

In  1849,  he  came  to  California.  On  October 
3rd,  1853,  he  was  appointed  Lieutenant  Colonel 
on  the  staff  of  Major  General  John  A.  Slitter, 
where  he  served  six  years.  Shortly  after  this  ap 
pointment  he  became  Quartermaster  General  with 
the  rank  of  Colonel. 

On  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion,  he  was 
appointed  Major  of  the  Second  Cavalry  Regiment. 
Shortly  after,  he  resigned.  Then  he  left  Califor 
nia  and  before  his  return  had  made  a  tour  of  the 
world,  experiencing  all  kinds  of  adventures  and 
vicissitudes. 

\Vhen  he  returned,  he  was  appointed  on  the 
staff  of  Major  General  Lewis,  as  Commissary  with 
the  rank  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  and  served  during 
his  administration. 

Closely  following  the  inauguration  of  Governor 
Stoneman,  he  was  appointed  to  his  present  posi 
tion  of  Paymaster  General  with  the  rank  of 
Colonel. 

He  is  the  first  Vice  President  of  the  Mexican 
War  Veteran  Association,  and  was  for  the  nine 
years  preceeding  1884,  Treasurer  of  the  California 
Rifle  Association. 

COLONEL    CHAS.    SONNTAG. 

Colonel  Charles  Sonntag  was  born  at  Wilming 
ton,  Delaware,  January  6,  1848,  and  came  to 
California  in  1854.  His  military  record  begins 
at  the  early  age  of  thirteen  years.  It  was  a  time 
of  commotion  and  preparation  for  a  great  con 
flict.  Of  the  many  organizations  formed  to  pro 
tect  the  Union  from  a  threatened  Pacific  Rebel 
lion,  he  joined  one  as  a  drummer  boy. 

On  April,  21,  1877,  he  became  a  member  of  the 
staff  of  General  McComb  as  Captain  and  A.  D.  C. 
Some  three  years  afterward,  this  position  was  re 
signed. 

He  was  appointed  to  his  present  position  as  In 
spector  General  of  Rifle  Practice,  with  the  rank 
^f  Colonel,  on  February  I,  1883.  His  last  official 
report  contains  many  valuable  suggestions  in  re 
gard  to  the  improvement  of  the  rifle  practice  of 
the  National  Guard. 

LIEUTENANT    COLONEL    GEORGE    HARTWELL 
KIMBALL. 

This  record  begins  with  the  Civil  War.  In 
April,  1861,  Col.  Kimball  joined  the  famous 
Thirteenth  Massachusetts.  He  participated,  as  a 
member,  in  the  battles  of  Antietam,  Martinsburg, 
and  all  of  the  famous  conflicts  in  which  that  reg 
iment  fought  from  the  middle  of  1861  to  the  same 
time  in  1862.  In  December  of  the  latter  year,  he 
joined  the  command  of  General  Banks  at  New 


544 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


Orleans.  One  year  afterward,  having  in  the 
meantime  been  promoted  to  the  position  of  As 
sistant  Adjutant  General,  he  was  compelled  to 


officer  in  the  National  Guard  of  that  high  grade. 
He  was  born  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  on  the  2ist 
of  March,  1848.  He  received  a  commercial  edu- 


resign  his  position  on  account  of  an  attack  of  the    cation  at  the  Washington  University,  of  St.  Louis. 


General  Matthews  springs  from  a  family  in  whom 
the  military  ardor  has  shown  itself,  having  three 
uncles  who  served  throughout  in  the  Mexican  war 


holds. 

Col.  Kimball  is  also  a  member  of  the    Military 
Order  of  the  Royal  Legion  of  the  United  States. 

LIEUTENANT  COLONEL    HARRY   W.   CARROLL 


dreaded  yellow  fever. 

His  connection  with  the  X.  G.  C.   begins    with 
February    I,    1883,    when    he  was  commissioned 

Lieutenant  Colonel  and  A.  D.  C.,  on  the  staft  of   and  relatives  on  both  sides  who  were  in  th«  late 
Governor    Stoneman,     which    position    he    now    war.     He  served  two  years  and  and  a  half  in  the 

Second  Regiment,  National  Guard  of  Missouri, 
under  Colonel  Squire  and  Captain  C.  P.  Ellerly  as 
company  commander.  He  was  commissioned 
Brigadier  General  of  the  First  Brigade  by  Gover- 
ner  Stoneman  on  the  2Oth  of  last  February,  vice 
Col.  Carroll  received  military  instruction  as  a 
cadet  at  St.  Augustine  Academy,  from  August 
1873  to  June  1875.  He  was  a  member,  also,  ot 
the  Cadet  Corps  at  the  University  of  California 
from  Aug.  1875  to  June  1880.  In  the  former 
corps  be  became  1st  Corporal.  At  the  University, 
after  a  term  of  one  year  as  private,  he  became 
Corporal  of  A  Co.  for  one  year,  then  Orderly  Ser 
geant  of  A  Co.  and  right-guide  batallion  for  one 
year,  and  then  Captain  of  D  Company  for  one 


1".  K.  Hewitt,  resigned  His  brigade  consists  of 
the  Eagle  Corps,  of  Los  Angeles,  and  Company 
B,  San  Diego  City  Guard,  two  very  effective  and 
well-drilled  organizations. 


year.     During  his   command  this  company    won 
every  prize  it  ever  competed  for. 

In  February  iSSo,  ru  was  also  a  com 
missioned  Engineer  officer  on  the  staff  of 
Brigadier  General  John  F.  Sheehan,  com 
manding  the  Fourth  Brigade,  which  place  he 
held  one  year  and  a  half.  He  was  then  advanced 


MAJOR    L.  S.    BUTLER. 

Major  Butler,  now  Assistant  Adjutant  General, 
and  Chief  of  Staff  of  the  First  Brigade,  can  date 
his  military  record  from  the  beginning  of  the 
Civil  War,  when,  in  May,  1861,  he  entered  the 
7th  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  experienced 
various  promotions  and  changes  from  regiment  to 
regiment  through  five  years  of  service,  receiving 
his  final  discharge  some  time  after  the  close  of  the 
war. 

Major  Butler's  first  commission  in  his  present 
position  bears  date  of  May  9,  1883.  He  has  re- 


to  the  position  of  pjgade  Inspector  (under  Gen.    ceived  similar  appointments  to  this  place  by  three 

successive  Brigade  Commanders. 

GENERAL    W.    H.    DIMOND. 

Brigadier  General  Dimond,  commanding  I  he 
Second  Brigade,  is  one  of  the  members  of  the  in 
fluential  firm  of  Williams,  Dimond  &  Co  ;  a  dig 
nified,  refined  and  public-spirited  citizen,  whose 
popularity  is  shown  in  the  fact  that  his  second  ap 
pointment  as  Brigadier  General,  by  Governor 
Stoneman,  was  at  the  unanimous  request  of  every 
commissioned  officer  of  the  Second  Brigade.  Wil 
liam  Henry  Dimond  was  born  on  the  Sandwich 
Islands,  ot  American  parents,  in  1840,  and  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Oahu  College.  The  year  1861 
saw  him  enlisted  in  the  First  Hawaiian  Cavalry, 
and  before  the  close  of  the  year  he  was  commis 
sioned  Second  Lieutenant.  He  served  as  such 
until  the  news  of  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness 
reached  the  Islands,  when  he  resigned  his  commis 
sion,  abadoned  his  business  pursuits  and  embark 
ing  for  the  continent,  with  the  highest  testimonials 
proceeded  to  Washington  and  tendered  his  ser 
vices  to  President  Lincoln.  He  was  appointed 
Captain  and  A.  A.  G.  of  U.  S.  Volunteers  from 
New  York  City,  serving  until  the  close  of  the  war 
when  he  resigned  and  returned  to  his  Island  home. 
Again  he  entered  the  Hawaiian  service,  being 
commissioned  Captain  of  Troop  B,  First  Cavalry 
resigning  in  1867,  when  he  came  to  San  Francisco 
and  entered  into  business.  On  the  election  of 
Governor  Perkins,  he  was  commissioned  Lieuten 
ant  Colonel  and  A.  D.  C.  on  the  staff;  and  in 
1 88 1  was  commissioned  by  him  as  General  of  the 
Second  Brigade,  vice  John  McComb,  who  resigned. 
General  Dimond  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity, 
the  G.  A.  R.,  Military  Order  of  the  Loyal  Legion, 
the  Military  Association  of  the  Pacific,  and  is 
President  of  the  California  Rifle  Association.  He 


Tozer,  who  succeeded  Gen.  Sheehan),  which  he 
held  till  Gov.  Perkins' administration  closed.  He 
was  then  appointed  Lieut.  Col.  and  Aid-de-camp 
on  the  staff  of  Gov.  Stoneman,  which  position  he 
now  holds.  He  has  attended  Camp  Backus  (Ala- 
meda);  Camp  Brown  (Nevada  Co.);  Camp  Hay- 
mond  (San  Rafael),  and  Camp  Stoneman  (Santa 
Cruz).  He  is  a  great  friend  and  admirer  of  mili 
tary  matters,  and  has  many  friends  among  the 
commissioned  officers  of  the  U.  S.  Army. 

MAJOR  GENERAL  WALTER  TURNBULL. 

The  above-named  commander  has  a  record  of 
twenty-two  years'  service  in  the  National  Guard. 
He  enlisted  in  the  City  Guard,  Company  B,  First 
Infantry  Regiment,  under  Captain  W.  C.  Little, 
on  the  the  28th  of  December,  1863.  His  subse 
quent  promotions  were  rapid,  being  made  a  Cor 
poral  in  1865,  a  Sergeant  in  1867,  and  receiving  a 
state  exemption  certificate  from  further  military 
service,  if  he  chose  to  avail  himself  of  it,  on  the 
9th  of  August,  1871.  He  was  commissioned  First 
Lieutenant  and  Quartermaster  on  the  staff  of  Col. 
W.  H.  L.  Barnes,  commanding  the  crack  organiz 
ation  of  the  First  Infantry  Regiment,  in  June, 
1872,  and  was  made  Adjutant,  with  the  rank  of 
Captain,  in  March,  1873,  remaining  as  such  until 
his  resignation,  on  the  3Oth  of  December,  1874. 
He  was  then  commissioned  Lieutenant  Colonel 
and  Division  Inspector  in  April,  1880,  on  the 
staft"  of  Major  General  Barnes,  whom  he  succeeded 
in  that  office  in  February,  1883,  when  General 
Barnes  resigned.  General  Turnbull  was  born  in 
Canada  in  1844. 

GENERAL    JOHN    R.      MATTHEWS. 

Brigadier  General  Jn<>.  K.  Matthews,  command 
ing  the  First   Brigade,  N.  G.   C.    is  the   voungest 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


545 


has  twice  been  decorated  by  King  Kalakaua  in 
recognition  of  his  services  in  opening  up  that 
country  to  commercial  relations  with  foreign  na 
tions. 

MAJOR    JOHN    T.    CUTTING. 

This  member  of  General  Dimond's  staff  has  an 
interesting  record.  He  has  proved  to  be  a  very 
capable  staff  officer  since  his  appointment  by  Col. 
Dickinson  as  Quartermaster  of  the  First  Infantry. 
He  is  generally  respected  in  the  community  as  an 
honorable  and  successful  merchant,  and  is  well 
known  as  an  earnest  comrade  of  Geo.  H.Thomas 
Post,  G.  A.  R.  The  record  of  war  service  which 
earned  for  him  the  right  to  be  a  member  of  this 
association  of  veterans  is  as  follows  : 

He  enlisted  at  the  commencement  of  the  war, 
at  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  in  Company  B,  Chica 
go  Light  Artillery  (known  as  Taylor's  Battery), 
in  response  to  President  Lincoln's  call,  April  15, 
1 86 1,  for  75,000  men  to  serve  three  months.  He 
re-enlisted  for  three  yeare  in  the  same  company, 
and  during  his  connection  with  Taylor's  Battery, 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Frederickstown,  Mo., 
Belmont,  Mo.,  and  Forts  Henry  and  Donelson, 
receiving  a  wound  at  the  latter  battle,  from  which 
he  was  laid  up  in  Mound  City  Hospital  several 
months.  After  a  severe  illness  of  long  duration 
he  was  honorably  discharged  from  the  service  on 
account  of  general  disability  on  January  4,  1864  ; 
he  re-enlisted  for  three  years,  or  during  the  war, 
in  the  Chicago  Mercantile  Battery  ;  accompanied 
Genenal  Banks'  expedition  up  Red  River,  and 
took  an  active  part  in  the  battle  of  Sabine  Cross 
Roads.  In  this  disaster  the  battery  was  lost  and 
all  the  officers  but  one,  with  thirteen  men,  were 
either  killed  or  taken  prisoners.  After  the  battle 
of  Pleasant  Hill,  the  company,  or  what  was  left 
of  it,  was  returned  to  New  Orleans  where  it  was 
reorganized  and  supplied  with  full  equipments. 
It  accompanied  General  Davidson's  raid  from 
Baton  Rouge  to  Pascagoula  Bay,  a  distance  of 
nearly  400  miles,  seventy-five  of  which  was 
through  swamps  over  which  corduroy  bridges  were 
built  the  whole  distance.  The  roads  were  ren 
dered  almost  impassable  by  heavy  rains.  Yet 
the  march  was  effected  within  fifteen  days,  the 
men  halting  not  exceeding  four  hours  at  any  one 
time.  Maj.  Cutting  was  mustered  out  of  the  ser 
vice  at  the  close  of  the  war,  after  having  served 
three  years  in  all  before  reaching  the  age  of  twen 
ty-one  years.  He  was  appointed  Quartermaster 
of  the  First  Infantry,  N.  G.  C.,  May  24,  1 88 1,  with 
the  rank  of  First  Lieutenant  on  Col.  Dickinson's 
staff.  He  was  promoted  Jan.  10,  1882,  to  his 
present  position  of  Major  and  Ordinance  officer 
on  the  staff  of  the  Second  Brigade. 

MAJOR    Z.    P.     CLARK. 

The  creditable  record  of  Major  Clark,  long  as 
it  is,  can  be  given  in  almost  a  word.  He  was  an 
officer  in  the  First  Wisconsin  Volunteer  Infantry 
and  served  in  all  the  campaigns  of  the  army  of  the 
Cumberland  from  1861  to  1865.  He  is  now 
Major  and  Paymaster  on  the  staff  of  Brigadier 
Gen.  Dimond,  commanding  the  Second  Brigade 
N.  G.  C. 

COLONEL    JOHN    H.    DICKINSON. 

John  Henry  Dickinson,  of  the  First  Infantry 
Regiment,  was  born  in  Parkersburg,  West  Vir 


ginia,  in  1849,  and  moved  with  his  parents  to 
Portland,  Oregon,  in  1854,  where  he  resided  until 
1866.  He  managed  to  save  sufficient  money  to 
go  East  and  take  a  five  months'  course  in  the 
Ohio  Military  College,  returning  to  Portland  in 
the  fall  of  1865.  In  1869  he  went  to  St.  Augus 
tine  Academy  in  Benicia,  where  he  was  engaged 
as  military  and  general  instructor,  and  remained 
until  1873.  Then  he  began  the  practice  of  law  in 
this  city.  In  1879  Colonel  Dickinson  was 
elected  to  the  State  Senate,  serving  two  terms  ; 
also,  in  1880-81,  under  the  new  constitution.  The 
Colonel  is  life  member  of  Companies  B  (City 
Guard)  and  C  (National  Guard),  of  the  First  In 
fantry  Regiment.  He  was  elected  Captain  of 
Company  B  in  1877,  and  promoted  a  Colonel  in 
1880.  The  regiment  is  the  pioneer  organization 
of  the  N.  G.  C.,  and  has  always  been  noted  for  its 
esprit  de  corps.  The  Colonel  is  Presiden.  of  the 
National  Guard  Officers'  Association  ;  had  con 
siderable  to  do  with  the  passage  and  framed  the 
Military  bill  passed  by  the  last  Legislature.  He 
has  always  been  an  enthusiastic  member  of  the 
National  Guard. 

LIEUTENANT  COLONEL  R.  H.  ORTON. 

The  second  in  command  of  the  First  Regi 
ment  was  a  member  of  its  organization,  hold 
ing  the  position  of  Second  Lieutenant  of  Co.  K. 
Thence  he  entered  the  Sumners,  then  Co.  I,  as  a 
sergeant.  In  March,  1863,  he  became  Second 
Lieut,  of  Company  F,  of  the  First  California  Vol 
unteer  Cavalry,  and  in  Jan.  1864,  he  was  pro 
moted  to  be  First  Lieutenant. 

While  in  the  U.S.  service  he  was  stationed  in 
New  Mexico  and  Texas.  During  the  winter  and 
spring  of  1864-5  he  was  in  command  of  the  out 
post  of  San  Ehzario,  Texas,  and  made  five  raids 
into  old  Mexico  in  pursuit  of  Indians  and  desert 
ers.  During  the  summer  of  1865  he  was  Adjutant 
of  an  expedition  against  the  Comanche  and  Kiowa 
Indians  under  the  celebrated  Kit  Carson,  and  was 
promoted  Captain  in  his  regiment,  while  on  that 
expedition,  and  on  the  return  of  the  same  assumed 
command  of  Co.  M,  at  Fort  Selden,  New  Mexico 
— while  at  that  post  during  the  winter  and  spring 
of  1866  information  was  received  that  the  town 
of  Janos,  Mexico,  had  been  captured  by  Apache 
Indians  and  that  they  were  still  holding  the  town. 
An  expedition  was  organized  by  Col.  Ned  Willis, 
P'irst  Cal.  Infantry,  for  the  rescue  of  the  same,  and 
Capt.  Orton  went  in  command  of  the  Cavalry  por 
tion  of  the  expedition,  which  resulted  successfully. 
Capt.  Orton  was  mustered  out  of  the  U.  S.  ser 
vice  Jan.  4th,  1867,  being  the  last  Californian 
volunteer  in  the  U.S.  service. 

He  again  entered  the  State  service  as  Second 
Lieutenant,  Co.  D,  First  Infantry,  N.  G.C.,  April 
1873,  was  promoted  First  Lieutenant,  Sept.  1874, 
and  Captain  of  the  same  Co.  Feb.  2,  1875.  The 
Company,  while  under  his  command,  won  the  first 
prize  for  excellence  in  drill  at  the  State  Fair  in 
Sacramento  in  1878.  He  was  promoted  Major  of 
the  First  Cavalry  Battalion  in  Aug.  1878,  and 
was  placed  on  the  retired  list  in  Sept.  1881.  He 
re-entered  active  service  in  April  1885,  as  Ma 
jor  of  the  First  Infantry  and  was  elected  Lieut. 
Col.  of  the  same  regiment  on  May  3Oth,  1883. 

He  also  holds  the  position  of  Assistant  Quarter 
master  General,  G.  A.  R. 


546 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


LIEUTENANT    FRANK    BUXTON. 

Another  very  complete  war  record  is  that  of 
Lieutenant  Buxton,  who  joined  the  Twentieth 
Massachusetts  Infantry,  August,  1861.  With  this 
regiment  he  served  about  two  years,  participating 
in  all  its  battles  including  the  Hall's  Bluff  disaster. 
Joining  the  Tenth  Unattached,  Artillery,  he 
served  with  them  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and 
then  remained  with  it  as  a  militia  organization 
until  he  left  Massachusetts  in  about  1866.  Coming 
to  California  in  1869,  he  joined  the  N.  G.C.  about 
seven  years  thereafter  as  a  member  of  the  Light 
Dragoons.  On  July  16,  1880,  he  was  appointed 
to  his  present  position  of  First  Lieutenant  and 
Ordinance  Officer  on  the  staff  of  the  First  In 
fantry. 

LIEUTENANT   A.    S.    PETERSON. 

The  record  of  Lieutenant  Peterson  begins  at  the 
outbreak  of  the  rebellion.  In  1861,  he  joined  the 
Little  York  Union  Guard  of  Nevada  County. 
Out  of  1 08  voters  in  the  village  from  which  it  was 
organized,  76  joined  the  company. 

Lieutenant  Peterson  was  one  of  the  attendants 
at  the  lamous  Camp  Kibbe  in  1863. 

Coming  to  San  Francisco,  he  joined  Company 
C  of  the  First  Infantry  in  1865.  He  was  appoint 
ed  in  1882  on  the  staff  of  Col.  Dickinson,  and  is 
now  First  Lieutenant  and  Paymaster  on  the  same 
staff;  his  commission  bearing  date  March  19, 
1884. 

He  is  now  treasurer  of  Company  C  and  Com 
pany  G  of  the  First  Infantry. 

Mr.  Peterson  is  one  of  the  California  pioneers 
of  1849. 

DRUM    MAJOR    C.     M.   MAYBERRY. 

In  his  search  for  certain  items  in  the  history  of 
the  National  Guard,  the  writer  came  upon  a  re 
markable  military  record.  It  begins  in  1847, 
when  Mr.  Mayberry,  who  by  the  way  is  a  native 
of  New  London,  Connecticut,  joined  the  U.  S. 
Marine  Corps,  serving  until  1849.  He  was  also 
in  service  from  1853  to  1859.  In  January,  1862, 
he  joined  the  Ninetieth  Pennsylvania  volunteers, 
and  in  1863  joined  a  third  arm  of  the  service  by 
connecting  himself  with  the  New  Jersey  Cavalry. 

From  May,  1868  till  the  year  1876,  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Twelfth  United  States  Infantry. 

IP  September  of  the  latter  year  he  became  a 
member  of  the  First  Regiment,  N.  G.  C. 

This  veteran,  if  there  ever  was  a  veteran,  is  now 
armorer  at  the  First  Regimental  Armory,  on  New 
Montgomery  and  Howard  streets,  San  Francisco. 

COLONEL    WILLIAM    R.    SMEDBERG. 

William  Renwick  Smedberg,  Colonel  lately 
commanding  the  Second  Artillery  Regiment,  is 
the  bean  ideal  of  the  soldier  in  the  N.  G.  C.  He 
is  high  in  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  is 
Recorder  of  the  Loyal  Legion  of  the  United 
Stairs,  Comrnandry  of  California,  and  a  member 
of  the  Military  Association  of  the  Pacific. 
Colonel Smedberg  18 a  soldier  by  i>rotVs*i«>n  and 
inclination,  and  the  greater  part  of  his  busy  life 
was  spent  in  the  service.  Born  in  New  York 
City  on  the  IDth  of  March,  is;i<),  he  entered 
Columbia  College,  New  York,  iii  is.'):;,  graduat 
ing  in  .Inn:-.  lx.">7.  He  enlisted  in  Company  F 
of  the  New  York  Seventh  Regiment  in  July. 


L858,  remaining  with  it  until  ISiiO,  when  he  was 
honorably  discharged  on  ai'count  of  his  re 
moval  to  Washington,  1).  C.,  where  he  joined 
the  National  Rifles  in  1861,  and  resided  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war.  He  enlisted  in  the 
United  States  service  on  the  15th  of  April  as  a 
volunteer  and  private  in  Company  A,  Third 
Battalion,  District  of  Columbia  Volunteers,  and 
was  honorably  discharged  on  the  4th  of  July,  on 
acceptance  of  a  commission  in  the  United 
States  army,  serving  in  the  Potomac  and 
Patterson  campaigns.  Hamersly's  "Kecords  of 
Living  Officers  of  the  United  States  Army  " 
gives  his  record  of  service  as  follows:  Fi'r.-t 
Lieutenant,  Fourteenth  U.  S.  Infantry,  May  11, 
isci ;  Captain,  October25, 1861;  Breveted  Major 
on  July  2,  1863,  for  gallant  and  meritorious  ser 
vice  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  Penn. :  Breveted 
Lieutenant  Colonel,  May  6,  18G4,  for  like  con 
duct  at  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  Ya. ;  Ad 
jutant  Second  Battalion,  Fourteenth  Intantrv, 
from  August  30th  to  October  25,  1861;  Division 
Inspector,  First  Division,  Fifth  Army  Corps, 
when  wounded  May  5,  1864,  after  which  he 
served  as  Recruiting  and  Mustering  Officer  until 
the  close  of  the  war,  when  he  came  with  his 
regiment  to  California  in  November,  1865.  He 
was  Assistant  Inspector  of  the  Department  of 
California  from  December,  1865,  to  May  26,  186(3 
A.  D.  C.  of  the  Military  Division  of  the  Pacific 
from  that  period  to  the  31st  of  May,  ixil!)  and 
A.  A.  G.  from  June,  1869  to  December  15,  1870, 
when  he  was  retired  from  active  service,  with 
rank  of  Mounted  Captain,  on  account  of  the 
loss  of  his  right  leg  from  a  wound  received  at 
the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  Colonel  Srnedberg's 
connection  with  the  N.  G.  C.,  dates  from  Sep 
tember,  1874,  when  he  was  commissioned  Lieu 
tenant  Colonel  and  Division  Inspector  on  the 
staff  of  Major  General  D.  W.  C.  Thompson; 
Brigade  Inspector  on  the  staff  of  General  John 
McCornb,  Second  Brigade,  January  19,  1876,  am! 
elected  Colonel  of  the  Second  Infantry  (now  the 
Second  Artillery  Regiment)  October,  1876,  being 
successivelv  re-elected,  and  lastly  in  October 
last.  Much  to  the  regret  of  the  Second  Regi 
ment,  Col.  Smedberg  has  recently  tendered  his 
resignation  which  has  been  accepted.  Since 
his  retirement  from  the  army,  in  1X70,  Colonel 
Smedberg  has  been  intrusted*  employment  with 
the  Pacific  Mail  Steamship  Company.  C.  A. 
Low  &  Co.,  and  is  now  with  Balfour,  Guthrie  ct 
Co.  In  private,  as  in  military  service.  Colonel 
Smedberg  is  a  dignified  courteous  and  irre 
proachable  citizen. 

LIEUTENANT    COLONEL  DAVID  WILDER, 

While  the  bare  dates  of  the  record  of  a  man  so 
well  known  in  militaay  circles  as  Colonel  Wilder, 
hardly  do  justice  to  his  carreer,  they  show  a  lad 
der  of  promotion  without  the  absence  of  a  single 
round — a  rise  due  evidently  to  merit,  not  favor. 
They  begin  with  his  enlistment  in  the  City  Guard 
Company  B,  1st  Infantry  Regiment,  August  15, 
1862.  Thence  he  rose  through  the  positions  of 
Corporal  and  Sergeant  to  that  of  Second  Lieuten 
ant,  Oct.  16,  1866. 

On  Nov.  i,  1869,  he  became  First  Lieutenant, 
and  was  commissioned  Captain  of  his  company 
March  4,  1871. 

Stepping  out  of  his  company,  he  became  Maj 
or  of  the  First  Infantry  Regiment,  on  Feb.  27, 
1875,  and  on  Dec.  I,  1877,  he  received  his  com 
mission  as  Lieutenant  Colonel.  With  this  rank 
lie  was  placed  on  the  retired  list  July  14,  iSSo, 
but  on  August  4,  of  the  following  year,  he  was  as 
signed  the  position  which  he  now  holds — that  of 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


547 


Lieutenant  Colonel  of  the   Second  Artillery  Regi 
ment. 

He  is  also  Military  Librarian,  and,  apropos  of 
this,  it  may  be  said  that  the  Colonel's  informa 
tion  regarding  the  history  and  present  state  of  the 
National  Guard  of  California  is  remarkably  com 
plete. 

LIEUTENANT    HANS    H.     KOHLER. 

The  present  Paymaster  on  the  staff  of  the  Sec 
ond  Artillery,  first  enlisted  in  Company 
E,  of  this  regiment — a  company  formed  of  mem 
bers  of  the  Olympic  Club.  He  remained  with  the 
company  when  it  was  consolidated  with  Com 
pany  G.  In  the  early  part  of  1883  he  was  made 
a  corporal,  and  on  August  of  that  year  he  was 
promoted  to  his  present  position  with  the  rank  of 
First  Lieutenant. 

COLONEL    ROBERT    TOBIN. 

Colonel  Robert  Tobin,  commanding  the  Third 
Infantry  Regiment,  was  born  in  San  Francisco 
on  the  30th  day  of  October,  1854,  and  received  a 
literary  and  classical  education  at  St.  Ignatius 
College.  Graduating  in  1872,  he  entered  upon 
the  study  of  the  law  in  his  father's  office,  and  in 
October,  1875,  was  admitted  to  practice  before 
the  Supreme  Court,  and  became  the  junior  mem 
ber  of  the  law  firm  of  Tobin  &  Tobin.  He  was 
elected  Colonel  of  the  Regiment  on  the  29th  of 
June,  1883.  Colonel  Tobin  was  one  of  the  elect 
ed  members  of  the  Board  of  Fifteen  Freeholders 
to  frame  a  charter  for  the  city  of  San  Francisco 
under  the  new  constitution.  He  has  been  Vice 
Chairman  of  the  State  Central  Democratic  Com 
mittee,  and  a  member  for  three  terms,  being  now 
a  member  at  large  of  that  body.  He  was  the  first 
officer  of  the  N.  G.  C.  to  be  favored  with  honor 
ary  membership  in  the  Military  Association  of  the 
Pacific.  Colonel  Tobin  is  a  most  energetic  of 
ficer,  and  very  popular  in  his  command. 

COLONEL  H.  D.  RANLETT. 
Colonel  Horace  Dodge  Ranlett,  commanding 
the  Fifth  Infantry  Regiment,  is  one  of  the  most 
zealous  and  energetic  officers  of  the  N.  G.  C.,  be 
sides  being  a  crack  shot  and  an  enthusiast  in  rifle 
practice.  He  was  born  in  Charlestown,  Mass.,  on 
the  4th  of  April,  1842,  received  an  education  in 
in  the  public  grammar  and  High  Schools  of  Char 
lestown,  and  from  his  sixteenth  to  nineteenth  year 
was  engaged  in  fitting  himself  tor  a  mercantile 
life.  He  came  to  California  in  July,  1861,  going 
thence  to  Yokohama.  He  remained  in  the  orient 
— both  at  Yokohama  and  Shanghai — in  mercan 
tile  pursuits,  but  had  to  leave  in  1864,  on  account 
of  ill -health.  In  1865,  Colonel  Ranlett  was  chief 
clerk  in  the  State  Controller's  office  at  Concord, 
New  Hampshire,  and  in  1866  came  to  California 
a  second  time,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He 
was  a  member  of  Salignac's  Drill  Battalion  of 
Boston  in  1 860-61,  and  of  the  "  Yokohama  Vol 
unteers"  in  1862-63.  In  1866,  he  enlisted  as  pri 
vate  in  Company  B.  N.  G,  C.;  was  Second  Lieu 
tenant  in  1869,  First  Lieutenant  in  1870,  Captain 
of  the  Oakland  City  Guard  for  six  years,  and  in 
1882  was  commissioned  Major,  and  later  Lieuten 
ant  Colonel.  Colonel  Ranlett  is  President  of  the 
Pacific  Rifle  Club,  and  the  only  representative  on 


this  Coast  of  the  National  Guard    Association  of 
the  United  States. 

LIEUT.  COL.  JAS.   MERVYN    DONAHUE. 

Col.  Donahue  was  born  April  30,  1859,  and  is, 
therefore,  one  of  the  youngest  regimental  officers 
in  the  National  Guard.  He  became  a  National 
Guardsman,  Feb.  9,  1879,  when  he  joined  Com 
pany  G  of  Second  Regiment,  San  Francisco.  He 
was  afterward  appointed  Paymaster  on  the  staff  of 
Major  Hammond.  Then  followed  his  appoint 
ment  on  the  staff  of  Governor  Perkins  and  after 
ward  on  Gov.  Stoneman's  staff,  ranking  as  Lieut. 
Col.,  his  commission  dating  from  Jan.  12,  1882. 

On  June  16,  1885,  he  resigned  from  the  staff 
and  accepted  the  place  of  Captain  and  Adjutant 
of  the  Fifth  Infantry  Battalion.  About  four 
months  ago  he  was  elected  to  his  present  position 
as  Lieutent  Colonel  of  the  Fifth  Infantry.  In 
business  Col.  Donahue  holds  the  responsible  place 
of  Vice-President  of  the  San  Francisco  and  North 
Pacific  Railroad, 


i 


MAJOR   WM.   M.   GIBSON. 

In  August,  1874,  Major  Gibson  enlisted  as  a 
rivate  in  the  Stockton  Guards,  Third  Brigade, 
N.  G.  C, 

On  May  20  of  the  following  year  he  was  ap 
pointed  Major  and  Ordinance  officer  on  the  staff 
of  the  General  commanding  the  Third  Brigade. 
This  position  he  resigned  March  5,  1877,  but  in 
the  same  year  he  was  appointed  Major  and  Aid- 
de-camp  on  the  staff  of  Major  General  Lewis, 
commanding  Division;  the  commission  expir 
ing  bv  the  resignation  of  General  Lewis. 

February  20, 1880,  Major  Gibson  was  appoint 
ed  Brigade  Inspector  on  the  staff  of  the  Third 
Brigade.  Two  years  after  he  was  promoted  to 
the  position  of  Major  and  Assistant  Adjutant 
General  on  the  same  staff. 

One  June  24th,  1885,  he  was  placed  on  the  re 
tired  list  with  the  rank  of  Major. 

On  October  16,  of  this  year,  at  the  request  of 
Major  Budd,  commanding  the  Sixth  Infantry 
Battalion.  Third  Brigade,  he  was  detailed  by  the 
commander-in-chief  as  Adjutant  of  the  Battal 
ion,  which  position  he  now  holds. 

GENERAL  JOHN  T.  CAREY. 

Brigadier  General  John  T.  Carey,  command 
ing  the  Fourth  Brigade,  is  a  lawyer  by  profes 
sion,  and  served  as  District  Attorney  of  Sacra 
mento  county  during  the  years  1883-4.  Pre 
vious  to  his  acceptance  of  the  Brigadier  Gener: 
alship  he  was  Rifle  Inspector  on  the  staff  of 
Colonel  Creed  Haymond,  of  the  First  Artillery 
Regiment,  and  as  early  as  18<>8  was  a  member 
of  the  Sacramento  Light  Artillery.  General 
Carey  is  a  native  of  Missouri,  and  came  to  this 
State  when  a  child  with  his  father,  R.  S.  Carey, 
who  has  figured  as  one  of  the  most  prominent 
citizens  of  Yolo  and  Sacramento  counties. 

MAJOR  W.  J.  DAVIS. 

This  gentleman,  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for 
courtesies  in  the  way  of  information  in  regard 
to  many  points  in  the  general  history  of  the 
National  Guard,  was  connected  with  the  Fourth 
Brigade,  July  29,  1881,  as  Commissary  Sergeant 
of  the  First  Artillery  Regiment.  Since  Novem 
ber  10th  of  the  same  year,  he  has  borne  his 
commission  as  Major  and  Engineer  officer  on 
the  staff' of  the  Brig.  Gen.  of  the  same  Brigade. 


548 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


MAJOR    H.    A.    WEAVER. 

The  following  facts  were  furnished  bv  the 
Major  himself  at  our  request.  We  find  our 
selves  unable  to  state  them  better,  and  hence 
give  them  verbatim: 

"  I  beg  to  state  tint  my  first  service  for  the 
State  was  performed  in  '»>3  at  Camp  Kibbe.on  the 
Kncinal. where  the  town  of  Alameda  now  stands, 
in  a  Santa  Cruz  company,  located  at  Watson- 
ville  (Jerome  Porter,  now  of  your  city,  Capt. ), 
in  the  honorable  position  of  private. 

In  18  >4,  returning  from  an  excursion  of  one 
of  the  city  companies  of  Sacramento,  I  carried 
a  musket  for  a  wounded  soldier,  whose  repeated 
attacks  on  John  Barleycorn  had  disabled  him 
for  the  service. 

Next  commissioned  Aid-de-camp  on  the  Staff 
of  Brig.  Gen.  Jno.  F.  Sheehan,4th  Brigade,  now 
of  the  Post,  your  city.  Promoted  to  Asst.  Adj. 
Gen.  and  Chief  of  Staff  under  the  same  gallant 
commander;  re-appointed  under  Brig.  Gen.  L. 
Tozer, Major  and  Quartermaster, same  Brigade; 
re-appointed  to  the  same  position  on  the  Start 
of  Gen.  J.  T.  Carey,  who  cc 
date. 


commands  at  this 


COLONEL    T.    W.    SHEEHAN. 

The  Colonel  of  the  First  Artillery  Regiment 
ha>  had  military  experience  covering  a  "period 
of  twenty-three  years.  He  entered  the  I Hion 
army  from  Maine  when  not  more  than  a  boy  in 
year-,  his  regiment  serving  in  the  Butler  expe 
dition  to  New  Orleans  and  doing  good  service 
before  Port  Hudson,  where  the  men  suffered 
terribly.  At  the  close  of  the  war,  he  came  to 
California,  and  was  soon  Captain  of  a  company 
of  the  old  Fourth  Regiment,  in  Sacramento, 
where  he  has  since  resided,  having  held  for 
.many  years  the  position  of  business  manager 
of  the  Ketord-Umon.  Some  years  ago,  he  be 
came  Captain  of  Company  G  of  the  First  Artil 
lery,  and  on  Colonel  Raymond's  retirement 
was  elected  his  successor.  Colonel  Sheehan 
has  the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the  best 
tacticians  in  the  National  Guard.  He  is  a 
strict  disciplinarian,  but  is  very  popular  with 
his  command. 

MAJOR    J.    S.    CAMERON. 

One  who  has  always  taken  a  lively  interest  in 
the  welfare  of  the  National  Guard  is  the  present 
Fifth  Brigade  Surgeon.  Maj.  Cameron  has 
been  connected  with  the  Start'  of  Gen.  Cadwal- 
ader  for  nearly  ten  years.  His  first  appointment 
was  early  in  187<>.  The  Major  is  a  genial  gen 
tleman,  and  as  his  position  indicates,  is  a  phy 
sician  and  surgeon. 

GENERAL    CHARLES    CADWALADER. 

Brigadier  General  Charles  Cadwalader,  the 
commander  of  the  Fifth  Brigade,  is  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  having  been  born  at  Brownsville, 
in  that  state.  At  an  early  age  he  became  a 
civil  engineer  on  the  Central  Ohio  Railroad,  re 
maining  in  the  employ  of  the  company  as  con 
structing  engineer  until  1852,  when  became  to 
this  state.  Clerking  in  his  father's  store  at 
Mokelnmn.e  Hill  for  four  years,  he  removed 
to  Sacramento  and  engaged  in  the  Imsin. 
farming,  which  he  followed  until  the  beginning 
Of  the  building  Of  the  Central  1'acilic  Railroad. 
He  then  obtained  the  position  of  assistant  chief 
engineer,  which  beheld  for  twenty  years.  He 
was  also  lo'-ating  and  constructing  engineer  be 
tween  Sacramento  and  Ogden  and  between  the 
caj.itol  city  and  Redding,  on  the  Oregon  A:  Cal 


ifornia  Railroad.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Sutter  Rtrles  until  the >  corup-iny  wa-i  disbanded, 
at  the  time  of  the  Vigilante  troubles,  in  is."),. 
Charles  Cadwalader  wa-  appointed  Brigadier 
General  of  the  Fifth  Brigade.  N.  G.  C.,  in  1873, 
by  Governor  Booth,  and  at  the  expiration  of 
commissions  has  been  successively  reappointed 
by  Governors  Irwin,  Perkins  and'Stoneman. 

MAJOR    GEO.    W.    REED. 

In  the  general  historical  sketch,  reference  has 
been  made  to  that  branch  of  the  National  Guard 
represented  at  the  different  institutions  of  learn 
ing  in  the  State.  The  present  instructor  of 
cadets  at  the  University  ot  California,  is  Maj.G. 
W.  Reed.  His  fitness  for  the  position  as  far  as 
experience  in  the  National  Guard  is  concerned, 
is  abundantly  shown  by  the  following  olh'cial 
record : 

First  enlisted  inJCo.  F,  1st  Infantry  Reg.,  Aug. 
4th,  1877. 

Appointed  Sergeant  Co.  F,  2st  Infantry  Reg. , 
May,  25,  1878. 

Appointed  1st  Sergeant  Co.  F,  1st  Infantry 
Reg.,  Jan.  2,  1879. 

Commissioned  2d  Lieut.  Co.  F,  1st  Infantry 
Reg.,  April  1,1879. 

Commissioned  1st  Lieut,  Co.  F.  1st  Infantry 
Reg.,  Aug.  19,  1879. 

Commissioned  Capt.  and  A.  I).  C.  2d  Brigade, 
N.  (!.  C.,  March  8, 1880. 

Resigned  and  commissioned  1st  Lieut,  and 
Adj.  1st  Infantry  Reg.,  July  Hi,  isso. 

Commissioned  Capt.  and  Adj.  1st  Infantry 
Reg.,  March  4,  1881. 

Commissioned  Maj.  and  Asst.  Adj.  Gen.  2d 
Brigade,  June  9,  Issi! 

Resigned  and  commissioned  Capt.  and  Adj. 
1st  Infantry,  Reg.,  May  25,  1883. 

Received  Exempt  Certificate  Aug.  4,  ISM. 

Commissioned  Maj.  and  Instructor  of  cadets 
at  Berkeley,  June  25,  1885. 

COL.    OSCAR    WOODHAMS. 

One  of  the  most  enterprising  and  enthusi 
astic  members  of  the  National  Guard,  was  Col. 
Oscar  Woodhams.  He  became  a  member  of 
his^  favorite  "Simmer  Light  Guard."  Sept.  7, 
1863.  On  Oct.  2.  18(35,  he  was  elected  corporal ; 
on  April  4,  1S:)7,  he  was  elected  1st  Sergeant; 
on  April  13,  I*. ;s  lie  was  elected  2nd  Lieut.,  and 
on  May  17,  18U9  he  became  Captain. 

His  regimental  record  begins  Aug. , 'JO,  1871. 
when  he  became  Major  of  the  First  Regiment. 
On  Feb.  27_,  1S75,  lie  became  Lieut.  Col.,  arid  on 
Dec.  (!,  1877,  he  assumed  the  position  of  Colonel 
of  the  1st  Infantry  Regiment.  During  his  of 
ficial  connection  with  the  National  Guard,  he 
was  fertile  in  the  devices  to  increase  the  in 
terest  of  the  men  of  his  command  in  their  duties. 
He  introduced  the  custom  of  Kxhibition  Wing 
Drills, 'under direction  of  I",  s.  oii'n-ers;  lie  held 
the  first  regimental  encampment  in  the  State; 
his  was  the  lirst  command  to  attend  Divine 
Service  in  a  body.  The  church  was  that  of  Dr. 
Stone,  who  at  that  time  was  the  Regimental 
Chaplain. 

Col.  \Voodhams  was  born  in  New  York  City 
in  1837,  and  came  to  California  in  IS.M).  He 
was  retire  1  May  1">,  1-^n,  with  the  rank  of  Col. 

COL.     WM.     HARNEY. 

On  the  retirement  of  this  well-known  gentle 
man  from  the  service,  the  following,  written  by 
one  of  Col.  Harney's  friends,  appeared  in  one 
of  the  dailies: 

••  The  retirement  of  the  oldest  commissioned 
oilicerof  the  National  Guard  oalls  for  more  than 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


549 


Eassing  comment.  Col.  Harney  commenced 
is  military  career  at  twelve  years  of  age  as  Sec. 
ond  Lieutenant  of  a  cadet  company  in  New 
York,  gaining  there  a  knowledge  of  drill  which 
was  of  much  service  to  him,  when  on  the  16th 
of  March,  1857,  he  enlisted  as  private  in  the 
Black  Hussars  Cavalry  of  San  Francisco.  In 
this  company  he  held  the  commissions  of  Sec 
ond  and  First  Lieutenants,  remaining  with  it 
until  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  when  he  resigned 
and  organized  a  company  of  cavalry  volunteers 
for  service  in  the  East.  Finding  that  the  com 
pany  was  destined  for  service  in  Arizona,  he 
resigned  his  commission  as  lieutenant,  and  as 
sisted  in  organizing  the  San  Francisco  Guard 
for  home  protection.  In  1802  he  was  commis 
sioned  Judge- Advocate  on  the  Staff  of  Brig. 
Gen.  J.  S.  Ellis,  commanding  2d  Brigade,  and 
took  considerable  part  in  organizing  the  military 
school  and  camp  at  Alameda,  where  the  militia 
of  the  whole  State  were  concentrated  for  in 
struction.  He  was  then  promoted  Aid-de-camp 
on  the  Staff  of  Gov.  F.  F.  Low,  and  served  in 
the  same  capacity  on  the  Staff  of  Governors  H. 
H.  Haight  and  Newton  Booth,  being  promoted 
by  the  latter  to  be  Col.  and  Paymaster^General. 
This  office  he  continued  to  hold  until  lately, 
having  been  re-appointed  and  commissioned 
successively  by  Governors  Pacheco,  Irwin  and 
Perkins,  and  on  Jan  19,  1882,  he  was  placed 
upon  the  retired  list  as  Colonel,  upon  his  own 
request,  after  a  service  in  the  State  militia  of 
over  twenty-four  years,  during  more  than  half 
of  which  he  has  occupied  the  responsible  office 
of  Paymaster-General. 

LIEUTENANT    COLONEL    L.  L.   BROMWELL. 

Another  veteran  war  record  is  that  of  Colonel 
L.  L.  Bromwell,  who  entered  the  U.  S.  service 
in  18(52.  From  that  time  on,  until  the  close  of 
the  Rebellion,  he  participated  in  all  the  many 
engagements  where  duty  called  him.  This 
period  of  active  service  was  closed  by  his  hon 
orable  discharge  as  acting  master's  mate,  U. 
S.  Steamer  Abeona,  No.  32,  Mississippi  squad 
ron. 

Col.  Bromwell's  connection  with  the  National 
Guard  of  California  begins  in  Oct.  15,  1880, 
when  he  was  elected  Major  of  the  First  Infan 
try  Regiment  of  San  Francisco.  Here  he 
served  until  Feb.  13,  1882. 

He  was  then  unanimously  petitioned  by  the 
Oakland  Light  Cavalry  to  assume  their  com 
mand,  which  he  did.  Here  he  served  until 
March  10,  1883,  when  he  was  elected  Lieut.  Col. 
of  the  First  Infantry  Regiment,  vice  Gen. 
Turnbull,  promoted.  This  place  he  held  until 
his  resignation  on  March  27,  1885. 

MAJOR    FRED.   G.   SMITH. 

A i  the  time  of  his  retirement  (August  13, 
1880),  Nvith  the  rank  of  major,  Fred.  G.  Smith 
was  Brigade  Inspector  on  the  staff  of  the  Brig 
adier  General,  commanding  the  Second  Brigade. 
His  connection  with  the  N.  G.  C.  dates  from 
Feb.  15,  1805,  when  he  joined  Co.  A,  First  In 
fantry.  On  March  8,  1809,  he  was  transferred 
to  Co.  C,  of  the  same  regiment.  On  Jan.  3, 
1870,  he  was  elected  Treasurer  of  that  Company, 
an  office  which  he  held  for  ten  consecutive 
years.  On  Jan.  22,  1872,  he  became  Sergeant 
in  his  Company;  on  Feb.  5,  1877,  he  was  elected 
a  veteran  member;  made  a  life  member  Jan.  5, 
1880,  and  an  honorary  member  Sep.  6,  1880. 
.During  the  disturbances  of  1880,  he  acted  as  A. 
A.  A.  General.  He  was  appointed  Brigade 
Quartermaster  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Coey,  and 
was  afterward  appointed,  as  before  stated,  to 


the  position  of  Brigade  Inspector  on   the  staff 
of  Gen.  McComb. 

MAJOR    EDWIN    J.   ERASER. 

Major  Fraser  entered  service  in  the  2d  Regi 
ment,  2d  Brigade,  National  Guard  of  Cal.,  in 
the  spring  of  1874.  His  first  commission  as 
First  Lieut,  and  Ass't  Surgeon,  was  dated  Aug. 
10,  1874,  with  rank  from  July  30, 1874. 

His  second  commission  was  the  same,  and 
was  dated  June  24,  1875. 

His  third  commission  as  Major  and  Surgeon 
of  the  2d  Regiment,  the  2d  Brigade,  N.  G.  C.T 
is  dated  April  28,  1880. 

He  was  retired  from  service  with  the  rank  of 
Major  on  Oct.  25,  1882. 

BRIGADIER-GENERAL    JOHN    MCCOMB. 
John  McComb  enlisted  in  the  Franklin  Light 


elected  Lieut.  Col.  of  the  2nd  Infantry,  N.  G.  C. 
He  was  chosen  Col.  of  the  2nd  Infantry  in  Feb. 
1875.  He  was  appointed  Brig.  Gen.  by  Gov. 
Pacheco  in  Dec.  1875,  and  confirmed  by  the 
Senate  in  Jan.  1876.  He  was  re-appointed  Brig. 
Gen.  by  Gov.  Perkins  in  Jan.  1880,  and  con 
firmed  by  the  Senate  on  the  same  day ;  on  re 
ceiving  his  appointment  to  his  present  position 
as  Warden  atFolsom,he  went  on  the  retired 
list  of  the  N.  G.  C.,  with  the  rank  of  Brig.  Gen. 
Dec.  24,  1881. 

It  was  during  his  term  as  Brig.  Gen.  com 
manding  the  2nd  Brigade,  that  the  Chinese 
riots  and  labor  troubles  so  frequently  threatened 
the  peace  of  San  Francisco.  The  efficient  ser 
vice  rendered  by  his  brigade,  under  his  direc 
tion,  has  been  elsewhere  cnronicled.  Reference 
has  also  been  made  in  the  same  article  to  the 
team  that,  under  his  leadership,  won  the  rifle 
match  at  Creedmoor,  in  1S77. 

CAPTAIN    HENRY    A.    PLATE. 

Capt.  Plate  was  born  in  New  York  City,  Jan. 
9,  1860,  and  came  to  California  in  May,  1851. 

His  militarjr  connection  began  in  1863,  when, 
as  a  student  at  City  College,  he  joined  the  City 
College  Cadets  as  u  drummer  boy.  From  1865 
to  1868,  Capt.  Plate  was  in  Europe,  but  after  his 
return  he  joined  the  City  Guard  (now  Co.  B.) 
of  this  city,  in  1870.  His  promotions  in  this 
company  were  asfollo\vs:  In  1871,  corporal; 
in  1872,  Sergeant;  in  the  latter  part  of  that  year, 
Second  Lieut;  and  in  1873,  Captain  (holding  the 
office  four  years). 

In  1877,  he  wrent  back  to  the  ranks,  and  after 
ward  accepted  the  position  of  Quartermaster 
Sergeant  fora  short  term.  Resigning,  he  joined 
Co.  G,  of  the  2nd  Artillery  as  a  private.  On 
January  31,  1881,  he  was  appointed  Capt.  and 
Aid-de-camp  on  Gen.  Dimond's  Staff,  which  po 
sition  he  resigned  Feb.  15,  1883. 

BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  ALLEXEY  W.  VON 
SCHMIDT. 

This  civil  engineer  and  surveyor  has  an  illus 
trious  record.  Born  in  Russia  in  1822,  he,  at 
the  early  age  of  six  years,  left  his  native  land 
and  made  his  home  in  New  York  City.  In  1846 
he  joined  Co.  8,  of  the  famous  N.  Y.  7th 
Reg.,  and  his  connection  with  that  military  or 
ganization  continued  for  about  two  years. 

In  the  memorable  hegira  of  gold  hunters  to 
the  Pacific  Coast,  Von  Schmidt  was  in  the  van, 
arriving  in  California  in  May,  1849.  His  mil- 


550 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


itary  career  here  extends  over  a  period  of  seven 
teen  year<.  ijr  \va-  appointed  Major  of  Engi- 
.'ii  the  stall' of  Brig.  Gen.  II.  A.  Cobb.  He 
became  Lieut.  Col.  of  Engineers  when  Gen. 
Cobb  was  appointed  Maj.  Gen.  of  the  Cal.  Na 
tional  Guard. 

He  was  re-appointed  on  the  stall's  of  Lucius 
Allen  and  Gen.  W.  II.  L.  Barnes.  He  ^yas  re 
tired  with  the  rank  of  Lieut.  Colonel  at  his  own 
request,  having  served  the  State  in  his  military 
capacity,  ably,  faithfully,  and  enjoying  the 
profound  respect,  and  sincere  friendship  of  his 
brethren  in  arms. 

Col.  Von  Schmidt  has  not  only  the  mental 
but  the  physical  qualifications  of  the  true  sol 
dier.  He  has  an  imposing  military  presence — 
tall,  straight,  sinewy,  and  with  the  elastic  tread 
of  an  Olympian  athlete,  does  great  credit  to  the 
citizen  soldiery  of  his  adopted  State. 

It  may  not  be  deemed  inappropriate  in  this 
connection  to  state  that  the  subject  of  this  brief 
biographical  sketch  has  a  justly  deserved  repu 
tation  as  a  skillful  and  wonderfully  successful 
civil  engineer.  His  construction  of  the  Spring 
Valley  Water  Works,  his  building  of  the  great 
Dry  l>ock  of  San  Francisco,  his  blowing  up  of 
Blossom  Rock,  are  but  few  of  many  of  the  mon 
uments  of  his  genius,  ingenuity  and  intelligent 
mechanical  labor. 

Col.  Von  Schmidt  is  an  Ex-President  of  the 
Association  of  California  Pioneers;  and  as  a 
citizen,  universally  respected  throughout  the 
community  to  the  advancement  and  prosperity 
of  which  he  has  so  materially  contributed. 

COLONEL    GEO.    W.  GRANNISS. 

Col.  Granniss  has  been  closely  identified  with 
the  career  of  the  National  Guard  of  California 
from  its  earliest  days,  and  has  contributed 
much  of  his  time,  energies  and  means  to  its  ad 
vancement. 

His  military  record  does  him  honor.  He  re 
ceived  his  first  lessons  in  the  ranks  of  the  fa 
mous  New  Haven  Grays,  at  New  Haven,  Conn. 
Coming  to  California  in  1850,  and  while  resid 
ing  at  Sacramento,  he  became  a  member  of  the 
military  company  selected  from  volunteers 
(•ailed  out  during  the  squatter  troubles  of  that 
year.  This  company  was  the  nucleus  of  the 
iirst  military  organizations  of  Sacramento. 
Afterwards  becoming  a  resident  of  San  Francis 
co,  he  enrolled  himself  in  the  "  Independent 
City  Guard"  in  185i».  Moving  to  Sonoma 
County  in  1858,  he  became  Second  Lieutenant 


of  the  "  Sotoyonie<  iuard.''  He  returned  to  San 
Francisco  in*  18(50,  and  rejoined  his  old  com 
pany  B,  of  the  1st  Infantry.  On  October  I'!), 
18(51,  he  was  appointed  Fourth  Corporal,  and 
May  12,  18(52.  1st  Corporal  of  the  company. 
On 'August  14th,  in  the  same  year,  he  wa.-  pro 
moted  Second  Sergeant,  and  on  July  .".l.isu:;. 
he  was  advanced  another  grade,  to  wit,  First 
Sergeant  of  the  company.  Two  years  later,  on 
.Inly  (J,  18(1,"),  he  was  commissioned  Junior  Sec 
ond  Lieutenant,  and  on  September  18th  follow 
ing,  Senior  Second  Lieutenant.  He  was  elected 
First  Lieutenant  before  the  commission  was  is 
sued.  A  vacancy  occurring  in  the  Captaincy, 
he  was,  on  October  1(5,  18(>i>,  elected  and  com 
missioned  Captain.  On  Nov.  19,  18<58,  he  wa- 
promoted  Major  of  the  1st  Regiment,  and  he 
succeeded  to  the  Lieutenant-Colonelcy  on  Nov. 
i.  I860,  He  succeeded  Colonel  W.  H.  L.  Barnes 
as  Colonel  of  the  1st  Regiment  on  the  27th  of 
February,  1875.  It  is  very  well  known  that  po 
sitions  in  the  1st  Regiment  do  not  "  go  beg 
ging,  "as  at  elections  of  commissioned  officers 
very  severe  struggles  for  preferment  take  place. 
He  was  appointed  Colonel  and  Engineer  on  the 
staff  of  Governor  Perkins.  On  .Ian.  2U,  1883.  he 
was  retired  with  the  rank  of  Colonel.  Colonel 
Granniss  can  say  what  no  other  ofiicer  can. 
who  has  held  so  many  positions,  lie  was  ad 
vanced  in  ever}'  grade  without  opposition. 

LIEUTENANT    W.  J.   YOUNGER. 

One  of  the  early  members 

Sumner   L' -1  A       J 

He  joined 


Light  Guard,  is  Dr.  W.  J.  Younger, 
the  company  in   October,  18»>1,  very 
shortly   after   its    organization.     Passing   from 


the  ranks,  as  Corporal,  and  then  Sergeant,  he 
became  Second  Lieut,  of  his  Company  in  18ti7. 
and  in  May  1st;!)  became  First  Lieut,  This  po 
sition  he  afterwards  resigned,  and  continued  in 
the  Company  as  a  private,  and  as  such  served 
through  the  campaign  at  Sutter  Creek,  at  Camp 
Morgan,  and  at  Advance  Post. 

Not  long  afterward,  Dr.  Younger  left  the 
State  on  a  foreign  tour.  On  his  return,  he  was 
appointed  First  Lieut,  and  Quartermaster  on 
the  staff  of  Col.  Granniss  of  the  1st  Regiment, 
May  2<>,  1877.  On  Jan.  23,  1878,  he  accepted  the 
position  of  First  Lieut,  and  commissary  on  the 
same  staff,  which  position  he  resigned  in  1880. 

Dr.  Younger  is  a  good  raconteur  of  reminis 
cences  of  his  associatious  in  the  National  Guard, 
and  has  evidently  thoroughly  enjoyed  his  ex 
periences  in  the  1st  Regiment. 


THE    AMADOR    FIASCO. 


In  1871  the  "Amador  war  "  created  a 
ripple  of  excitememt  in  militia  circles. 
The  true  innernness  of -that  fiasco  has  nev 
er  appeared  in  print.  The  moving  of 
troops  to  Amador  upon  that  occasion,  was 
not  only  an  insult  to  American  manhood, 
but  an  outrage  upon  the  citizen  sovereign 
ty  of  the  men  who  then  composed  our 
militia,  inasmuch  as  they  were  unwittingly 
made  to  play  the  part  of  hirelings  paid  by 
prviate  capital  to  defend  the  Chinese  with 


whose  labor  capitalists  sought  to  supplant 
the  American  workers  of  the  mountain 
mines. 

Governor  Haight  was  a  sworn  member 
of  "The  Sovereigns  of  Labor,"  and  there 
fore  sworn  to  oppose  the  employment  of 
Chinese.  The  employment  of  Chinese 
in  the  Amador  mines  caused  the  white 
miners  to  form  a  union  or  "league."  The 
league  struck  against  the  pigtails  and 
"  boycotted  "  the  mines  in  which  they  were 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


551 


employed.  To  protect  their  mines — /.  e., 
their  Chinamen — the  mine-owners  called 
for  troops.  In  all  probability,  Governor 
Haight  was  in  sympathy  with  the  strikers; 
at  all  events  he  made  the  play  that  there 
were  no  funds  available  for  the  payment  of 
expenses  incident  to  a  compliance  with 
the  demand  of  the  Amador  nabobs.  The 
nabobs,  however,  were  not  to  be  put  off. 
They  brought  pressure  to  bear  and  the 
pressure  brought  about  an  agreement  by 
the  stipulations  of  which  State  troops  were 
to  be  forwarded  to  Amador,  the  nabobs  to 
furnish  the  cost  of  transportation  and  the 
per  diem  of  the  men. 

In  effect,  the  troops,  to  the  number  de 
sired,  were  hired  to  the  Capitalists  of  the 
State,  who  were  interested  in  the  mines  of 
Amador  County,  a  proceeding  which 
I  hope  may  never  again  be  chronicled. 

A    CAMP    KETTLE    CAMPAIGN. 

On  the  25th  of  June,  1871,  two  com 
panies  of  the  first  regiment,  under  the 
command  of  Col.  W.  H.  L.  Barnes,  arriv 
ed  at  Sutter  Creek,  Amador  County. 

Aside  from  the  baseness  of  the  princi 
ple  involved,  and  which,  at  the  time,  was 
wholly  unperceived  by  the  men,  the  troops 
had  a  jolly  time  of  it ;  the  only  warlike 
demonstration  which  appeared  being  a 
casemated  mountain  battery  of  camp  ket 
tles  which  some  wagish  mountain  men  had 
arranged  for  the  field-glass  ogling  of  Com 
mandant  Barnes  and  his  staff. 

Rising  abruptly  from  Sutter  Creek,  a 
mountain  spur  frowns  down  upon  the  vil 
lage  as  the  shaggy  moustache  of  Comman 
dant  Barnes  frowned  down  upon  his  chin. 
One  morning,  early,  while  strolling  along 
the  base  of  the  mountain,  an  emotional 
little  Corporal  discovered  that  a  formidable 
battery  of  howitzers  had  been  planted  dur 
ing  the  night  high  upon  the  mountain  and 
directly  over  the  ill-fated  town.  Filled 
with  trepidation  and  alarm,  the  man  has 
tened  to  headquarters  and  demanded  an 
interview  with  the  Commandant. 

A  three-foot  by  five  matron,  of  the  Hi 
bernian  persuasion,  informed  the  excited 
Corporal  that  "Th'  Gen'ral"  had  "spirit  a 
moighty  loud  noight" — and  that  he  was 
still  wrapped  in  the  "arrums  av  Murphies." 

The  Corporal  insisted  that  his  mission 


was  one  of  life  and  death  and  made  such 
racket  that  the  Cammandant  was  roused 
from  the  "  arrums  av  Murphies "  and 
roared  out,  "  come  in  !  " 

With  becoming  seriousness  and  wonder 
ful  composure,  (considering  the  loudness 
of  the  night  just  passed),  the  Commandant 
heard  the  tale  of  the  Corporal.  Trumps 
of  war  were  sounded,  messengers  were 
dispatched  to  rouse  the  staff  from  the  "  ar 
rums  av  Murphies  "  and  the  "  Ginral  " 
fished  from  the  depths  and  straw  of  a  cham 
pagne  crate  his  sword-knot  and  field-glasses. 
A  reconnoitering  party  was  hastily  formed 
and  from  a  sheltered  coign  of  vantage,  the 
midnight  battery  was  anxiously  scrutinized. 

Sure  enough,  there  it  was.  Ten  great 
black  mouthed  howitzers  gaped  and  yawned 
down  upon  the  town — each  firmly  bedded 
in  a  bastion  of  great  brown  rocks — in  rear 
of  which,  and  pitched  at  a  suggestive  angle, 
the  eagle  eye  of  Commandant  Barnes  de 
tected  the  bulging  belley  and  the  iron  lips 
of  a  monster  mortar. 

A  council  of  war  was  immediately  held, 
the  result  of  which,  perhaps,  will  never  be 
known.  Col.  Barnes,  however,  took  the 
next  stage  for  'Frisco  and  never  more  saw 
the  brown  rocks  and  gaping  gunnery  of 
Amador. 

The  hire  of  an  army,  even  of  two  com 
panies,  began  to  bear  heavily  upon  the 
mine  owners.  They  settled  with  the  strik 
ers  and  discharged  the  Chinese  and  their 
protectors.  The  "battery  of  howitzers" 
was  dismantled  and  proved  to  be  ten  big 
mouthed  camp  kettles  bolstered  by  rocks 
and  clods,  and  backed  by  a  great  hog 
scalding  cauldron  that  had  served  the  imag 
ination  of  the  "  The  Commandant  "  as 
"a  monster  mortar." 

Thus  ended  the  Camp  Kettle  Campaign. 
The  nabobs  settled  with  all  parties  con 
cerned  except  the  rank  and  file  of  the  militia. 
To  each  man  of  the  two  companies  who 
dared  the  "monster  mortar"  one  dollar  is 
yet  due. 

The  heroism  of  "Captain  Jack,"  the 
Modoc  martyr,  the  Fraud  of  '76,  the  Order 
of  Caucasians,  the  riot  of  '77,  the  coward 
ice  of  Ktarney  and  the  murder  of  Lancing 
excited  the  attention  of  malitia  men  but 
called  for  no  service  worth  the  labor  of  a 
chronicler.  AN  OLD  SOLDIER. 


552 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


THE    GALLANT    MILITIA    MAN. 


I. 

As  he  marches  gay,  on  a  summer's  day, 

"When  smiling  maids  but  scan — 
The  polished  boot  and  the  bran  new  suit 

Of  the  young  militia  man; 
In  the  youthful  face  and  lithesome  grace 

The  thoughtful  surely  see — 
The  bud  and  bloom,  the  bride  and  groom, 

The  foliage  of  the  free! 

CHORUS. 

To  the  right  about— march  on,  and  shout- 
Go  it  while  you  can! 

Let  love  and  law  shout  out  hurrah! 
For  the  gallant  militia  man. 

II. 

When  the  plum'd  cockade  nods  in  parade, 
And  treasure's  watchdogs  sneer — 


At  the  awkward  squad,  as  the  columns  plod, 
While  gamins  whoop  and  cheer; 

In  the  blue  and  buff,  I  see  in  rough 
The  brawn  of  a  hero  heart 

And  drum  beats  con:   "You'll  need  anon 
The  spirit  we  impart." 

CHORUS. 
III. 

Forevermore  each  front  and  fore — 

To  the  right — and  on,  march  on! 
Let  law  control  while  girls  extol 

The  gallant  militia  man. 
In  love  and  law  first  freedom  saw 

The  twain  that  teaches  men  : 
"Let  no  surcease  of  slothful  peace 

Forge  your  chains  again." 


CHORUS. 


AN  OLD  SOLDIER, 


THE    MILITIA. 


The  idea,  as  well  as  the  practice,  of 
maintaining  an  organized  body  of  citizen 
soldiery  must  be  traced — in  my  judgment— 
to  the  Celtic  nations.  True,  the  ancient  Per 
sians  maintained  "The  Immortals,"  a 
choice  body  of  ten  thousand  men,  but  they 
were  "  Soldiers  of  the  king  "  and  made  no 
pretensions  to  the  rights  and  priveleges 
of  citizenship.  Mithridates  maintained  a 
standing  army,  but  Pontus  contained  no 
citizen  militia.  Carthage  and  Rome  main 
tained  neither  standing  army  nor  militia, 
but  drafted  as  emergency  required,  en 
forcing  involuntary  service  and  in  many 
instances  compelling  their  slaves  to  stand 
in  the  front  of  battle.  Such  was  never  the 
case  among  the  Celts.  Each  member  of 
a  Celtic  clan  or  sept  was  the  equal  of  all 
others  in  citizenship.  Every  clan  was  an 
organized  battalion  and  every  chief  was  a 
captain.  Those  features  of  Celtic  clan 
ship  made  a  forcible  impression  upon  the 
mind  of  Julius  Caesar  and  are  largely  men 
tioned  in  his  commentaries. 

THE    FEUDAL    SYSTEM. 

The  peculiar  organization  and  polity  of 
the  Teutonic  tribes— Gothic  and  German 
ic — developed  feudalism  ;  while  the  for 
mation  and  polity  of  the  Celtic  clans  ren 


dered  the  establishment  of  the  feudal  sys 
tem  impossible. 

Though  the  elective  franchise  was  in 
vogue  among  the  Germans — in  some  form 
— from  time  immemorial,  yet  the  civic  and 
military  being  of  the  tribesman  were  by  no 
means  co-equal.  In  the  person  of  the  citi 
zen  the  soldier  always  appeared,  but  in  the 
person  of  the  soldier  the  citizen  was  dor 
mant  or  dead.  The  tribesman  held  his 
land — yea,  even  his  right  of  life,  by  a  mili 
tary  tenure.  Fealty  to  the  death  was  due 
the  chief,  and  through  the  chief,  the  king, 
from  whom  the  petty  ruler  held  his  terri 
tory  in  fief.  By  a  process  of  natural  de 
velopment  this  system  raised  up  Clovis  and 
sprouted  and  spread  till  it  bloomed  in  the 
splendid  feudality  of  Charlemange,  which 
the  descendants  of  Rollo  planted  in  Britian, 
grafted  in  Italy,  bannered  in  Morocco  and 
displayed  in  Palestine. 

Feduality  added  flame  to  the  fire  of  war 
and  romance  to  the  calling  of  the  soldier. 
It  did  so,  however,  at  the  expense  of  citi 
zenship.  But  while  feudalism  retarded 
the  march  of  liberty,  it  taught  the  value 
of  discipline  and  the  power  of  concentra 
tion. 

As  we  are  indebted  to  no  one  man  for 
the  full  perfection  of  any  great  machine 


THE    GOLDEN    ERA. 


553 


neither  are  we  indebted  to  any  one  race 
or  nation  for  the  perfection  to  which  our 
militia  mechanicism  has  attained. 

To  the  Romans  we  owe  the  germ  of 
discipline;  to  the  German  that  idea  of 
concentration  and  the  retention  of  the 
elective  franchise  in  ourmilitia  militant. 
To  the  Celts,  however,  we  are  indebted 
for  the  form  of  the  militia  itself,  as  well 
as  the  preservation  of  the  citizen  in  the 
person  of  the  soldier. 

A  body  of  men  who  render  service  in 
lieu  of  lands,  booty  or  privileges  held,  pro 
mised,  or  expected,  are  in  no  sense  a 
militia,  as  we  now  understand  that  term. 
Nor  can  a  body  of  men  who  serve  because 
of  fealty  due  by  oath  or  inheritance  to  king, 
chief,  or  dynasty  comply  with  our  under 
standing  of  the  term. 

The  mere  semblance  of  such  fealty  is  a 
just,  if  not  imperative  reason,  for  disband 
ing  any  part  or  portion  of  our  militia  dis 
playing  such  semblance.  For  such  a  dis 
play,  at  the  close  of  the  Grant-Colfax  cam 
paign  in  this  State,  a  Stockton  company 
was  rightly  and  properly  disbanded. 
Hence,  the  berserkers  of  the  Scandinavian 
Vikings,  or  the  fighting  vassals  of  the 
Saxon  Heptarchy,  cannot  be  regarded  as  a 
militia. 

As  I  regard  the  Roman  "  Enrollment  of 
the  Tribes,"  as  the  basis  of  the  present 
German  Landwehr,  so  I  regard  the  Celtic 
clan  system  as  the  basis  of  our  modern 
militia. 

THE    CELTS. 

The  members  of  a  Celtic  clan  regarded 
each  other  as  blood  relations.  Every 
member  bore  the  same  general  or  family 
name,  that  is  to  say,  each  member  of 
Clan  Catesby,  was  a  Catesby ;  every  mem 
ber  of  Clan  Donald,  was  a  Donald  ;  and 
all  of  Clan  Nial,  were  Nials,  a  peculiarity 
emphasized  by  the  use  of  the  prefixes  : 
"O,':  "  Mac,"  and  "App."  The  prefix 
"  App,"  was  used  by  the  Cambrians  or 
Celts  of  Briton,  and  meant  and  still  means 
"  of"  "  Rurac  App-Morgan,"  was  Rurac 
of  Morgan. 

"O"  and  "Mac"  were  prefixes  used 
by  the  Celts  of  Scotia  Major  (Ireland), and 
Scotia  Minor  (Scotland),  and  meant  and 
still  means  "  Descendant  " — "  Son." 

"Rory  O'Niell  was  Rory,  descendant  of 
Nial.  "  Angus  MacDonald  was  Angus, 
son  of  Donald." 


That  the  members  of  a  clan  were  co 
equal  in  clanship,  and  only  graded  as  fam 
ilies  are  graded,  is  fully  evidenced  by  the 
facts  that  the  Celts  knew  no  aristocracy, 
and  that  the  only  title  in  vogue  was  the  use 
of  the  article  "the"  before  the  prefix 
"Mac,"  "  O"  or  "App,"  and  which  desig 
nated  the  chief  of  a  clan.  Thus  :  "The  " 
O'Niell  was  chief  of  the  O'Niells;  "The" 
MacGregor,  chief  of  the  MacGregors  ;  and 
"The';  App-Jones  was  chief  of  clan 
Jones. 

From  the  foregoing  it  will  be  seen  that 
each  member  of  a  Celtic  clan  was  the  peer 
of  all  the  others  in  clanship,  and  clanship 
comprehended  all  that  we  know  to-day  of 
citizenship  so  far  as  its  exercise  was  need 
ed. 

No  land  tenure  bound  the  Celtic  clans 
man  to  his  chief;  no  military  fief  bound 
the  clan  to  the  king.  Clan  lands  were 
held  a  la  commune ;  even  the  king  could 
not  sell  a  grain  of  sand. 

Each  clan  was  a  complete  political  and 
military  community ;  a  federation  of  clans 
formed  a  province  or  palatinate,  and  a  con 
federation  of  provinces  formed  the  nation. 
Every  clansman  was  born  a  soldier  and 
every  chief  was  born  a  captain. 

Military  duty  came  to  the  Celt  with  his 
birth.  It  was  a  duty  as  naturally  inherited 
and  unquestioned  as  the  duties  of  the 
chase,  the  spade  and  the  plow.  It  was  not 
a  duty  formulated  by  king  or  chief  and 
rendered  for  value  received  or  privileges 
conferred  or  promised  ;  but  one  born  with 
the  clansman,  grown  with  his  growth,  an  at 
tribute  of  manhood  extending  from  the 
cradle  to  the  grave. 

Those  conditions  naturally  led  to  the 
formation  of  a  national  military  body,  re 
sembling  in  formation  and  in  many  of  its 
obligations  the  militia  of  America. 

THE    FENIANS    OF    FION. 

The  term  "  National  Guard  "  describes 
a  military  body  organized  in  the  interest 
of  the  nation  as  in  contradistinction  to 
one  organized  in  the  interest  of  the 
king  and  pledged  to  the  crown ;  and 
the  first  military  body  of  this  kind  known 
to  history — a  body  combining  all  the  qual 
ities  of  citizenship  with  the  duties  and  ob 
ligations  of  the  soldier — was  organized 
many  centuries  prior  to  the  Christian  era 
by  Fion  MacKool,  a  noted  chief  of  ancient 


554 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


Erin.  This  was  the  famous  Fenian  militia 
whose  deeds  and  heroes  form  the  base  and 
burden  of  the  songs  of  Ossian,  the  Irish 
Homer. 

To  be  a  Fenian  was  an  acknowledg 
ment  of  distinguished  citizenship ;  a  cov 
eted  honor  to  be  won  only  by  the  citizen 
whose  moral,  mental  and  physical  qualifi 
cations  stood  the  test  of  a  most  rigid  ex 
amination.  The  Fenian  made  no  oath  of 
fealty  to  the  king — he  was  sworn  to  defend 
the  nation.  The  body  first  formed  by 
Fion  may  therefore  be  considered  the  first 
properly  organized  national  guard  or 
state  militia  known  to  the  world. 

Among  the  ancient  Irish  the  term 
"clansman"  was  equivalent  to  the  modern 
term,  " citizen,"  and  in  the  Hibernian 
mind  the  quality  of  citizenship  was  insep- 
erably  associated  with  the  duties  of  the 
soldier.  Such  is  the  case  to-day  in  Swit 
zerland  ;  and  though  the  Swiss  are  among 
the  most  peaceable  and  law-abiding  of 
people,  they  are  the  most  war-like  of  men, 
and  possess,  at  this  time,  a  militia  system 
the  most  complete  and  perfect  in  the 
world. 

The  military  spirit  of  the  Swiss,  as  well 
as  the  perfection  of  their  milita  system, 
is  entirely  due  to  the  prevailing  estimate  of 
"the  citizen" — an  estimate  that  places 
first  among  the  integrals  of  citizenship  the 
defense  of  the  nation — the  duties  of  the 
soldier,  principles  first  formulated  by  Fion 
MacKool  and  given  first  practical  effect  in 
the  formation  of  the  Fenian  militia. 

SWITZERLAND'S  NATIONAL  GUARD. 

Every  Celt  was  a  soldier  by  birth,  and 
a  citizen  by  inheritance.  Each  Swiss  is  a 
citizen  by  birth,  and  a  soldier  by  law,  be 
ing  so  declared  by  the  Constitution  of  the 
State.  Before  this  law  all  men  in  Switzer 
land  stand  equal ;  no  man  can  be  substi 
tuted  for  another.  Money  cannot  pur 
chase  blood,  and  blood  alone  can  prove 
patriotism  and  win  honor.  Exemption 
from  service  can  be  had  only  by  officers  of 
the  Government,  of  public  institutions, 
clergymen,  students  of  theology,  members 
of  the  police  and  pilots. 

Exemption  may  also  be  extended  to  the 
only  son,  or  one  of  the  sons  of  a  widow, 
or  widower.  In  the  later  case,  the  widow 
er  must  have  passed  his  sixtieth  year,  and 
prove  that  his  only  son  is  necessary  to  his 


support.  A  widower  with  minor  children, 
and  who  has  no  means  of  support  save  the 
labor  of  his  hands,  may  also  be  exempted 
as  well  as  one  or  two  brothers,  whose  la 
bor  is  absolutely  necessary  to  the  mainte 
nance  of  aged  parents,  or  growing  and 
helpless  young. 

The  Council  of  State  of  each  Canton 
appoints  each  year  a  Commission  on  Fur 
lough.  This  Commission  is  composed  of 
ten  persons,  four  of  whom  represent  the 
militia  as  follows  :  2  commissioned  offi 
cers,  i  corporal,  i  private.  The  Commis 
sion  on  Furlough  acts  under  oath,  grants 
exemption  for  physical  defects,  or  want  of 
height,  passes  men  from  one  branch  of  the 
service  to  another,  or  relegates  them  from 
active  service  to  the  reserve.  Five  feet 
and  one  inch  is  the  Swiss  minimum  mili- 
itary  height,  and  the  man  of  twenty,  who 
cannot  fill  this  measure  is  furloughed  for 
two  years,  at  the  close  of  which  period,  if 
he  still  lacks,  he  is  dismissed  for  good,  as 
unavailable  timber.  Men  convicted  of 
crime,  or  of  known  bad  character,  are  de 
barred  from  service,  and  once  thus  de 
barred,  no  man  can  hold  a  commission  in 
the  service  of  Switzerland. 

The  Swiss  militia  is  composed  of  two 
great  divisions — the  Federal  Contingent 
and  the  Landwehr.  The  first  is  divided 
in  two  general  bodies — the  Elite  and  the 
Reserve.  The  Elite  is  composed  of  per 
sons  between  the  ages  of  twenty  and 
thirty-five  years,  and  includes  three  per 
cent  of  the  whole  population.  The  Re 
serve  contains  no  man  above  forty  years 
of  age,  and  includes  one  and  one-half  per 
cent  of  the  population.  The  Landwehr  is 
composed  of  men  between  the  ages  of 
twenty  and  forty-four. 

The  Landsturm  is  another  and  the  der 
nier  source  of  Switzerland's  military 
strength  ;  but  it  must  not  be  confounded 
with  the  organized  militia.  It  is,  as  its 
name  implies,  a  levy  en  masse — a  dernier 
resort,  and  consists  of  the  whole  male  pop 
ulation  capable  of  bearing  arms,  and  not 
incorporated  in  the  Elite  or  Reserve. 

SERVICE    OF    THE    SWISS. 

Eight  years  is  the  term  of  service  in  the 
Elite,  and  no  man  can  enter  that  body 
who  has  not  passed  through  a  complete 
course  of  primary  instruction.  Each  Canton 
is  charged  with  the  primary  instruction  of 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


555 


its  militia,  contingent  to  which  pupose  fif 
ty-six  days  of  each  year  is  set  aside. 

The  infantry,  cavalry  and  riflemen,  of 
the  Elite,  are  called  out  anually  for  masse, 
skelton  and  battalion  drill.  Special  atten 
tion  is  paid  to  the  drilling  of  dragoons  and 
guides,  the  drill  occupies  six  days,  three 
of  which  are  devoted  to  the  instruction  of 
commissioned  and  non-commissioned  of 
ficers — a  practice  that  might  be  profitably 
duplicated  by  the  militia  of  California. 

Each  alternate  year  is  set  aside  for  the 
drill  and  field  practice  of  engineers  and 
artillery — upon  which  occasions  new 
phases  and  inventions  of  gunnery  are  test 
ed  and  new  theories  of  fortification  and 
demolition  are  proved  or  exploded. 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing,  annual 
Federal  camps  are  established  to  which 
the  Cantons  send  their  men  that  they  may 
become  familiar  with  camp  life  and  the 
pomp  and  panoply  of  the  larger  combina 
tions  and  movements.  Those  camps  are 
on  the  highest  grade  of  "  the  school  of  the 
soldier,"  and  serve  as  a  piactical  drill  for 
commanders  and  staff  officers. 

The  militia  of  Switzerland  is  subjected 
to  a  rigid  annual  inspection  by  Federal 
Colonels  appointed  by  the  general  govern 
ment  ;  and  if  any  want  of  perfection  be  de 
tected  in  the  contingent  of  any  Canton, 
the  inspectors  have  the  power  to  order  such 
additional  drill  as  may,  in  the  judgment  of 
the  inspecting  officer,  remedy  the  defi 
ciency. 

A  colonel's  commision  is  the  highest 
military  parchment  issued  by  the  govern 
ment.  Even  the  commander  of  all  the 
forces  of  the  Swiss  Republic  is  only  a  General 
by  courtesy.  All  officers,  up  to  the  rank  of 
Major,are  appointed  by  the  Cantonal  author 
ities.  Colonels  are  appointed  by  the  Fed 
eral  government. 

No  one  can  be  commissioned  in  the  en 
gineers,  cavalry  or  artillery  except  such 
as  have  passed  through  a  creditable  course 
of  instruction  at  a  military  school.  In  ad 
dition  to  the  educational  and  technical 
qualifications  required,  two  years  service  is 
exacted  for  the  holding  of  the  lowest  com 
mission — eight  years  for  the  commission  of 
Major  and  twelve  years  for  that  of  Colonel. 
All  candidates  for  promotion  must  pass  a 
public  examination 

As  'a  result  of  her  complete    and  well 


nurtured  militia  system,  Switzerland  can 
place  300,000  well  armed  and  well  drilled 
men  in  the  field  ;  one  hundred  thousand 
men,  armed,  equipped  and  ready  for  ac 
tion,  can  be  placed  in  line  within  the  lim 
it  of  forty  hours.  When  it  is  considered 
that  the  country  contains  only  two  million 
and  a  half  of  people,  this  showing  is  won 
derful — almost  incredible.  But  the  offi 
cial  record  proves  the  fact,  and  facts  force 
credibility. 

ORIGIN  OF  AMERICA'S  MILITIA. 

Sam  Adams,  a  shoemaker  of  Boston, 
was  the  soul  of  the  colonial  secret  society 
known  as  the  Sons  of  Liberty.  Adams 
and  his  comrades  were  the  sowers  of  the 
seed  from  which  sprang  the  Republic  that 
to-day  stretches  its  giant  limbs  from  the 
lakes  to  the  gulf  and  from  sea  to  sea.  From 
the  seed  thus  sown  leaped  the  Minute  Men 
of  New  England  whom  the  ride  of  Paul 
Revere  roused  from  repose  to  light 
the  torch  of  war,  to  build  the  pyre  of  tyran 
ny,  and  to  witness  the  travail  of  the  grand 
est  birth  known  to  the  maternity  of  na 
tions. 

The  Minute  Men  were  sworn  to  liberty 
and  "The  Continental  Congress,"  /.  <?.,  the 
nation  and  the  constitution.  They  were 
the  seed  and  soil  of  America's  militia. 

The  English  Volunteers  of  to-day  are 
not  militia  ;  they  are  sworn  to  the  Crown, 
not  the  nation.  They  bear  arms  not  by 
right  but  by  the  will  of  "  Her  Majesty." 
The  same  is  true  of  the  Royal  Volunteers 
of  colonial  times ;  they  were  sworn  to 
George,  "  the  beast  "  and  bore  arms  not 
by  right,  but  by  "  the  will  of  His  Majesty." 
With  a  few  noble  exceptions,  such  as  War 
ren  and  others — the  King's  Colonial  Vol 
unteers  were  officered  by  enemies  of  Ameri 
ca — sycophantic  snobs,  toadies  of  "the 
Colonial  court."  While  those  officers 
were  unable  to  hold  all  the  rank  and  file 
of  their  several  organizations,  they  filled 
the  vacancies  with  dependents  and  hirelings 
and  preserved  the  organisms  intact  for 
"the  King."  Former  members  who  were 
taken  with  arms  fighting  for  kith,  kin  and 
freedom,  were  held  to  the  royal  compact, 
tried  and  convicted  of  desertion,  and  exe 
cuted.  A  notable  incident  of  this  kind 
occurred  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina, 
immediately  after  the  fight  at  Concord. 


556 


THE    GOLDEN    ERA. 


THE     MCCOYS. 

Prior  to  revolutionary  troubles,  an  old 
man  named  McCoy  occupied  a  farm  close 
to  Charleston.  He  was  a  hard  worker, 
stern  of  aspect  and  stalwart  of  frame. 
With  his  wife  and  only  son — a  noble  spec 
imen  of  young  manhood,  Mr.  McCoy 
lived  quietly  and  prosperously.  Like 
many  young  men  of  the  period,  his  son 
had  joined  one  of  the  Colonial  Volunteer 
companies.  But  the  "Time  that  tried 
men's  souls  "  came  upon  the  country,  and 
"  Old  McCoy  "  was  spotted — he  was 
known  to  be  a  pronounced  and  active 
"rebel."  One  morning,  when  talk  and 
threats  had  given  way  to  blows,  the  Mc 
Coy  farmhouse  was  suddenly  surrounded 
by  the  very  Company  of  which  the  young 
man  was  a  member.  "  Old  Mac  "  was 
of  the  blood  that  rarely  shirks  and  never 
surrenders,  and  hastily  barricading  his  log 
home,  he  bade  defiance  to  the  king's  hire 
lings,  and  fought  like  a  tiger. 

At  the  moment  of  attack,  young  Mc 
Coy  was  at  work  some  distance  from  his 
home  ;  roused  and  alarmed  by  the  firing, 
he  made  haste  to  the  scene  of  action,  and 
arrived  at  the  house,  just  as  his  former 
comrades-in-arms  forced  the  door  and 
swarmed  upon  his  heroic  father. 

With  the  howling  tories  the  young  man 
entered.  He  saw  his  father  fighing  sav 
agely,  surrounded  by  the  cursing  cowards; 
he  saw  him  stagger  and  fall — he  saw  the 
stalwart  old  frame,  with  a  mighty  effort, 
force  itself  partially  erect,  resting  painfully 
upon  one  knee,  in  which  position,  bleeding 
and  faint,  the  gallant  old  hero  continued  to 
fight  like  a  stag  at  bay. 

All  this  he  saw  in  a  single  glance,  and 
wresting  a  weapon  from  the  nearest  Tory  he 
dashed  through  the  murderous  circle  and 
stood  beside  his  dying  sire. 

The  cruel  conflict  was  brief  and 
bloody.  "Old  Mac"  lay  dead,  slashed 
and  gored  from  head  to  foot.  The  young 
man  lay  bound  and  pinioned,  desperately, 
if  not  fatally  wounded. 

Young  McCoy,  was  borne,  bound  and 
bleeding  to  Charleston,  where  he  was  charged 
with  (<  desertion  and  treason,  in  having 
been  found  and  taken  with  arms  in  hand, 
fighting  against  the  king's  Colonial  Dra 
goons  of  which  he  was  a  member  and  to 
whose  oath  of  fealty  he  had  subscribed." 


Drum-head  courts  have  a  penchant  for 
conviction,  and  as  a  matter  of  course  young 
McCoy  was  found  guilty  as  charged.  He 
was  publiclv  hanged  in  the  market  place 
amid  the  drunken  jeers  of  a  Tory  mob. 
Hanged  in  the  presence  of  his  bowed  and 
aged  mother  who,  kneeling  upon  the 
ground,  at  the  foot  of  the  "  Gallows  Tree," 
wept  not  a  tear,  but  prayed  as  Mary  prayed 
at  the  foot  of  the  cross  ;  prayed  for  the 
souls  that  were  gone — for  the  noble  son 
and  the  hero  sire — South  Carolina's  first 
font  of  blood  in  liberty's  baptismal  rites. 

From  the  blood  of  the  McCoy's,  sprung 
the  Minute  Men  of  the  South — the  Swam}) 
Angels — Marion's  Men  ;  and  many  a  Tory 
whose  drunken  jeers  embittered  the  last 
moments  of  liberty's  young  martyr  found 
"The  rest  that  knows  no  waking  "  at  the 
hands  of  the  sleepless  Swamp  Fox  and  his 
men. 

Such,  in  brief,  were  the  impulses  and 
materials  from  which  sprung  America's 
militia.  Its  Fion  MacKool,  however,  the 
master  spirit  that  forced  its  permanent  or 
ganization,  the  legal  father  who  gave  it  law 
ful  being,  was  the  immortal  Patrick  Henry, 
of  Virginia. 

FIRST    MILITIA    MEASURE. 

In  the  Old  Dominion  House  of  Repre 
sentatives — "The  Convention  of  the  Coun 
ties  and  Corporations  of  Virginia" —  Pat 
rick  Henry  introduced  the  following  reso 
lutions  on  the  twenty-third  day  of  March, 

1775  : 

"  ftesoh't'd:  That  a  well-regulated  militia,  com 
posed  of  gentlemen  and  yoemen,  is  the  natural 
strength  and  only  security  of  a  free  government; 
that  such  a  militia  in  this  colony  would  forever 
render  it  unnecessary  for  the  mother  country  to 
keep  among  us  for  the  purpose  of  our  defence,  any 
standing  army  of  mercenary  soldiers,  always  sub 
versive  of  the  quiet,  and  dangerous  to  the  li! 
of  the  people,  and  would  obviate  the  pretext  of 
taxing  us  for  their  support. 

"That  the  establishment  of  such  militia  is,  at 
this  ti>/u',  peculiarly  necessary,  by  the  state  of  our 
laws,  for  the  protection  and  defence  of  the  coun 
try,  some  of  which  are  already  expired,  and  others 
will  shortly  do  so;  and  that  the  known  remissness 
of  government  in  calling  us  together  in  legislative 
capacity,  renders  it  too  insecure  in  this  time  of 
danger  and  distress,  to  rely,  that  opportunity  will 
be  given  of  renewing  them,  in  general  assembly, 
or  making  any  provisions  to  secure  our  inesti 
mable  rights  and  liberties,  from  those  further  viola 
tions  with  which  they  are  threatened. 

"  Resoh'cd,  therefore:  That  this  colony  be  im 
mediately  put  into  a  state  of  defence,  and  that 
there  be  a  committee  to  prepare  a  plan  for  em- 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


557 


bodying,  arming,  and  disciplining  such  number  of 
men  as  may  be  sufficient  for  that  purpose." 

These  resolutions  were  adopted  ;  and 
Patrick  Henry,  George  Washington,  Rich 
ard  H.  Lee,  Robert  C.  Nicholas,  Benja 
min  Harrison,  Adam  Stevens,  Lemuel 
Riddick,  Andrew  Lewis,  William  Christian, 
Edmund  Pendleton,  Isaac  Zane  and 
Thomas  Jefferson  were  appointed  a  com 
mittee  to  prepare  a  plan  in  accordance 
with  the  last  resolution. 

It  was  during  the  debate  on  these  reso 
lutions  that  the  American  Demosthenes 
delivered  the  tremendous  storm  of  elo 
quence  which  stands  to-day  as  a  model  of 
its  kind  and  which  closes  with  the  ever  liv 
ing  sentence:  "I  know  not  what  course 
others  may  '  ake ;  but  as  for  me,  give  me 
liberty  or  give  me  death ! " 

The  Henry  resoultions  were  the  sills  of 
our  militia  system  ;  and  with  their  passage 
was  laid  its  legal  foundation.  Their  pith 
and  spirit  were  afterwards  incorporated  in 
the  organic  law  of  the  nation  and  appear 
to-day  in  the  constitution  of  every  state  of 
the  Union. 

CALIFORNIA'S  MILITIA. 

As  the  organization  of  the  militia  system 
ante-dates  the  birth  of  the  Union,  so  the  or 
ganization  of  California's  militia  ante-dates 
the  birth  of  the  State. 

California  never  had  a  territorial  exis 
tence  under  the  laws  of  the  United  States. 
The  country  had  a  provincial  government 
under  Spain  and  Mexico,  but  was  born  to 
America,  armed  and  equipped  as  a  State. 

California  was  admitted  to  the  Union 
on  September  9,  1850,  and  the  first  mili 
tary  company  was  organized  in  Sonoma 
County  in  1848.  This  was  a  body  of 
Americans  now  known  as  "  The  Bear 
Flag  Pioneers." 

Such  is  a  resume  of  the  general  history 
of  the  militia  as  an  institution  up  to  the  or 
ganization  of  California  as  a  State. 

STATUS    AND    SERVICE    OF    THE    N.    G.    C. 

As  this  issue  contains  another  paper 
wherein  may  be  found  a  detailed  state 
ment  of  the  strength  and  cost  of  the  N. 
G.  C.,  its  armament,  location,  etc.,  I  will 
only  supplement  the  same  as  follows : 

We  have  had  seven  Major-Generals  of 
militia  who  succeeded  in  the  following  or 
der:  Lucius  H.  Allen,  H.  A.  Cobb,  D. 


W.  C.  Thompson,  Geo.  R.  Vernon,  E.   ]• 
Lewis,  W.  H.  L.  Barnes,  Walter  Turnbull- 

We  have  had  nine  Adj  utant-Generals  as 
follows  :  Wm.  C.  Kibbe,  Geo.  S.  Evans, 
Jas.  M.  Allen,  Thos.  N.  Cazneau,  L.  H. 
Foote,  P,  F.  Walsh,  Samuel  W.  Backus, 
John  F.  Sheehan  and  Geo.  B.  Cosby. 

Generals  Cosby,  Walsh,  Backus,  Shee 
han  and  Foote  are  still  with  us  in  the  flesh, 
and  all  are  gentlemen  of  social  and  official 
distinction. 

The  present  personnel  of  the  N.  G.  C. 
will  compare  favorably  with  any  similar 
body  in  the  Union.  As  an  old  soldier, 
however,  and  with  the  kindliest  of  feelings 
I  will  venture  to  suggest  the  propriety  of 
imitating  the  Swiss  practice  in  the  matter 
of  creating  and  promoting  militia  officers, 
as  well  as  the  sound  military  policy  of  in 
augurating  consecutive  skeleton  drills  for 
commissioned  and  non-commissioned  of 
ficers. 

That  the  militia  of  California  contains-- 
all  the  essentials  of  an  efficient  and  capa 
ble  corps,  goes  without  saying.  That  it  is  the 
stuff  that  braves  the  brunt  of  war,  is  true  : , 
and  that  its    past  has  not  been  wholly  an. 
idle  pageant  is  proved  by  the  following  ex 
tract    from    a    report    made    by  Adjutant 
Gen.  P.  F.  Walsh  and  rendered  by  request 
of  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  1878  . 

I  have  examined  the  records  of  the  cavalry 
battalion,  consisting  of  four  hundred  officers  and 
men,  which  left  San  Francisco  on  the  twenty-first 
day  of  March,  1863,  to  join  the  Army  of  the  Po 
tomac,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and 
find  the  following  casualties: 

Killed,  died  of  wounds  and  in  prison. , 70 

Wounded 55 

Missing 13. 

Casualties  in  the  Cal.  Hundred  :  killed,  died  of 

wounds  and  in  prison 13, 

Wounded 5. 

California  also  furnished  eight  infantry- 
regiments,  two  cavalry  regiments,  one  bat 
talion  of  mountaineers,  one  battalion  of  na 
tive  cavalry,  besides  a  large  number  who 
went  East  to  serve  in  both  armies,  in  all 
not  less  than  20,000  men." 

For  valuable  official  data  I  desire  to  ac 
knowledge  my  indebtedness  to  Ajt.  Gen. 
Cosby  and  Gen.  P.  F.  Walsh.  I  am  thank 
ful  to  both  whom  I  respect  as  gentlemen 
and  know  as  soldiers. 

Of  those  who  took  a  prominent  part  in- 
the  militia  of  1861,  J.  G.  Downey,  of  Los 
Angeles;  John  B.  Frisbie,  of  the  city  of 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


Mexico ;     N.     Green     Curtis,    of   Sacra-  forces  who  opposed    the   Americans,  and 

-dnento;    James  L.   English,  also    of   Sac-  who    were    driven    from    Los  Angeles    by 

-amento,   and    A.    B.    Dibble,     of    Grass  General    Stephen    \V.   Kearney.     General 

Valley,  I  believe  to  be    still    "to  the  fore."  John  A.  Sutter  has  also    passed    the   rtibi- 

Don  Jose    Covarubias    and   Don  Andreas  con,  and  sleeps  the  sleep  of  death.    Green 

Pico   have  passed   the  last  picket  post  of  be   the  memory  of  the    dead — they  were 

life.     They  were  both  Hispano-Americans,  good  men  and  true  ! 
and  Don  Andreas  had  served  in  the  service 
of    Mexico   as   General    of  the    Mexican  P-  S.  DORNKY. 


ENCAMPMENT  O/  THE   NATIONAL  GUARD  AT  SANTA   CRUZ.  ii 


THE  MUSEUM. 


TY  MINCE-PIES. 


Christmas  memories  come  stealing  over  me  about  this 
ume  of  the  year,  seeming  like  days  of  delight  in  a  joyous 
procession.  A  happy  childhood  is  one  in  which  the  first 
six  months  of  the  year  are  spent  in  recalling  the  joys  of  the 
past  Christmas,  and  the  next  six  preparing  for  the  coming 
ane,  with  Fourth  of  July  and  Thanksgiving  and  birthdays 
:.hrown  in  to  relieve  the  tedium  between. 

There  are  those  of  Puritan  ancestry  who  have  imbibed  the 
.•jitter  hatred  of  those  doughty  old  souls  against  celebrating 
•Christmas,  as  a  sort  of  Catholic  mummery,  and  who  devote 
all  their  energies  to  the  observance  or  Thanksgiving  in 
stead,  and  they  cannot  understand  why  children  lose  their 
heads  at  the  approach  of  the  25th  of  December,  But  there 
is  something  in  Christmas  that  is  pre-eminently  suited  to 
the  childish  heart—  gifts  and  giving  are  easily  understood  by 
the  youngest  one  of  the  flock. 

As  we  have  the  holiday  at  present,  it  is   surrounded   by  a 

lumber  of  customs   and   symbols   gathered   up  from  many 

uitions  of  the  earth,  the  origins  of  which  are  lost  in  antiqui- 

,i(!    this,   doubtless,    was  one  of  the  reasons  that  our 

J'uritan  ancestors  took  so  little  stock  in  Christmas. 

I  remember  a  joyous  little  celebration  spent  in  the  East, 
•.n  the  center  of  Pennsylvania,  where  in  the  midst  of  our 
Christmas-tree  excitement,  a  strange  man  made  his  appear 
ance  and  denounced  my  grandfather  for  permitting  us  to 
!*ow  down  and  worship  idols.  To  this  day  I  can  still  feel 
the  tremor  and  sensation  of  horror  that  came  over  me  at  the 
sound  of  his  voice  and  his  words.  And  yet  from  his  point 
.  perhaps  he  was  justified.  The  tree  was  worshipped 


by  the  Druids,  and  undoubtedly  borrowed  from  their  old 
rites,  and  grafted  on  to  Christianity  when  they  adopted  the 
new  religion,  and  thus  has  come  down  to  us. 

Be  this  as  it  may.  a  Christmas  is  not  half  a  Christmas  that 
has  no  tree.  It  is  like  a  breath  from  the  forest,  or  a  sigh 
from  the  wildwood,  to  smell  the  fresh,  piny  fragrance  of  the 
Christmas  greens,  and  it  is  a  delightful  custom,  whether 
borrowed  from  those  sun-worshipping  heathens  or  not. 

There  are  a  number  of  savors  that  must  always  accompany 
that  piny  odor,  to  make  it  seem  like  Christmas,  and  not  the 
least  of  these  is  the  aromatic  mince-pie — not  the  counterfeit 
mince-pie  found  in  the  modern  restaurant,  but  the  real 
thing  itself.  I  don't  know  why  it  is  that  I  so  seldom  meet  a 
real  mince-pie  nowadays.  I  think,  possibly,  that  the  halo 
of  childhood  and  the  freshness  of  the  senses  must  have  some 
thing  to  do  with  it.  It  is  said  that  a  legend  hangs  over  the 
Christmas  pie  as  well  as  the  Christinas  tree,  and  that  it 
originated  in  the  gift  of  frankincense  and  myrrh  presented 
to  Marc  by  the  wise  men.  These  spices  were  in  time 
placed  between  two  crusts,  and  by  a  course  of  evolution 
became  the  mince  pie  which  descends  to  us  of  a  later  day. 

I  remember  a  season  of  mince-pie  beside  which  all  other 
mince-pies  pale  in  comparison.  It  was  when  we  lived  in  a 
deep  canon  of  the  Sierras,  miles  away  from  any  other  h  use, 
and  in  the  long,  cold  winters  we  had  to  find  our  recre  o'on 
within  our  own  little  family  circle.  In  preparing  for  our 
Christmas,  my  mother  devoted  several  days  to  baking,  wh  ile 
myself  and  brothers  danced  around  in  delight  at  seeing  that 
the  promised  time  was  nearly  at  hand. 

The  usual  custom    is    to    make    up    :t  -teat   jar   of  mince- 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


559 


meat  and  use  it  from  time  to  time  throughout  the  days  suc 
ceeding  the  holidays;  but  this  time,  the  winter  was  so  cold 
and  severe  and  everything  seemed  to  favor  the  idea,  so  that 
she  resolved  to  make  up  the  entire  jar  at  once.  I  remem 
ber  seeing  visions  of  mince-pies  standing  in.  rows — so  many 
of  them,  that  just  out  of  curiosity,  I  counted  them  and 
found  forty— forty  mince-pies  ! 

We  had  an  addition  built  on  to  the  house,  commonly 
called  an  L — ,  a  room  which  in  winter  was  utterly  unhabit 
able,  it  was  so  much  like  the  Arctic  regions.  A  fire  made 
no  appreciable  difference  in  its  temperature,  so  that  it  had 
to  be  abandoned  for  sleeping  purposes.  Into  this  natural 
refrigerator,  we  laid  the  multitude  of  pies,  and  during  those 
long  solemn  nights  of  stillness  and  icy  chill,  or  of  tempest 
and  snowy  death  we  gathered  close  to  the  merry,  crackling 
blaze,  and  told  stories  and  riddles  and  sang  songs ;  and 
then  one  of  us  would  be  sent  into  the  "  cold  room  "  for  our 
little  banquet.  In  we  would  fly,  seize  the  treasure,  and 
dart  out  like  a  hero  who  had  dared  the  goblins.  Placing 
the  frozen  morsel  between  two  pans,  we  would  turn  it  over 
and  over  before  the  flame,  and  slowly  upon  the  atmosphere 
would  steal  those  delicious  flavors,  subtle  and  spicy,  which 
belong  to  the  mince  pie,  and  the  mince  pie  alone. 

When  cut  into  mathematical  segments,  each  expectant 
youngster  received  his  or  her  share,  and  smilingly  absorbed 
the  fragrant  triangle.  We  were  hardy  children,  Nature  ad 
apting  us  to  battle  with  the  cold,  and  the  mince-pie  seemed 
specially  designed  for  the  peculiarities  which  surrounded 
us.  We  never  had  the  dreams  that  fall  to  the  ordinary 
mince-pie  eater,  but  slept  peacefully  and  soundly  after  our 
feast,  and  awoke  refreshed  and  ready  to  battle  with  the 
rigors  of  Nature  again  in  the  morning. 

The  long,  bitter  winter  in  the  ice-bound  canon  would  have 
long  since  faded  from  my  mind,  but  it  has  become  crystal- 
ized  into  a  sort  of  dim  legend,  on  account  of  the  forty  mince- 
pies. 


TWO   BAGS   OF   GOLD. 

A    TRUE    STORY. 

It  was  long,  long  ago,  perhaps  in  the  year  of  '52.  One 
night,  quite  late,  a  miner  bought  a  large  bill  of  goods  from 
the  provision  and  grocery  store  of  "  Kelsey  &  Martin,"  of 
Sacramento.  He  was  about  to  start  for  Frazer  River,  and 
the  goods  were  to  be  shipped  there  for  him.  It  being  so 
late,  and  the  man  hesitating  where  to  spend  the  night,  one 
of  the  younger  men  of  the  firm  invited  him  to  stay  with 
them  in  the  room  over  the  store,  where  they  rolled  them 
selves  in  their  blankets  and  took  it  easy. 

He  accepted  the  invitation,  and  listened  to  the  talk  going 
on  around  him  with  a  singular  interest.  It  was  steamer  day 
and  they  were  reading  aloud  the  letters  they  had  received 
from  the  folks  at  home.  One  read  of  Sally's  new  beau,  and 
Mary's  baby,  and  how  anxious  mother  was,  and  another  re 
sponded  with  a  thoughtful  letter  from  father,  full  of  good 
advice,  and  a  third  read  an  affectionate,  childish  letter  from 
a  little  sister,  all  breathing  of  a  strong  love  for  those  far 
away  wanderers,  stretched  on  the  hard  floor  with  nothing 
but  their  blankets  under  them. 

The  old  miner  listened  to  these  items  with  more  than  a 
passing  interest,  and  the  next  morning,  he  sought  out  the 
head  of  the  firm  and  asked  to  leave  two  bags  of  nuggets  and 
gold-dust  in  their  care. 

Said  he,  "I  listened  to  them  letters  last  night,  and  they 
waz  so  good  and  homely,  that  I  jest  made  up  my  mind  that 
all  you  folks  waz  to  be  trusted  around  nere.  I  dunno  when 
I'll  be  back  again,  but  I'd  ruther  leave  it  here  than  in  a 
bank." 

There  were  so  many  unconventional  things  done  in  those 
days,  that  no  one  expressed  much  surprise,  and  the'  miner 
went  away  leaving  three  thousand  dollars  worth  of  treasure 
in  their  care. 


Two  years  had  clasped  when  the  miner  returned  from  his 
Frazer  River  trip.  He  was  much  older,  much  more  weather- 
beaten,  and  had  gathered  only  a  small  stini  for  his  years  of 
toil,  but  he  had  resolved  to  collect  his  money  together  and 
go  to  his  home  in  the  East,  worn  out  with  the  privations  and 
disappointments  of  a  miner's  life.  He  called  at  the  store 
and  was  surprised  to  see  the  sign  changed.  An  unfamiliar 
face  greeted  him. 

"  Isn't  this  the  store  of  Kelsey  &  Martin  V"  he  asked,  be 
ginning  to  be  troubled. 

"  It  was,  sir,  but  it  has  passed  out  of  their  hands  and  be 
longs  to  me." 

"Where can  I  find  Mr.  Kelsey?" 

"  Mr.  Kelsey  has  been  dead  a  year,"  was  the  startling  re 
sponse. 

"  And  Mr.  Martin  ?"  the  miner's  face  was  a  study. 

"  He  went  East,  six  months  ago.  Anything  I  can  do  for 
you?" 

The  miner  shook  his  head  gravely.  "  I  don't  see  how  I 
could  have  been  mistaken.  I'd  do  it  over  again.  The  fact 
is  I  left  two  bags  'o  gold-dust  and  nuggets  here  with  them, 
but  how  1  am  agoin'  to  get  'em  agin,  beats  me." 

"  Just  step  in  here,  sir,  and  tell  me  the  circumstances," 
and  he  led  the  way. 

When  the  miner  had  finished  the  odd  little  story  with  full 
reference  to  Sally's  beau,  and  Mary's  baby,  and  how  worried 
mother  was,  the  incidents  of  the  letters  they  read  aloud  to 
each  other,  the  owner  of  the  store  opened  his  safe  and  said, 
"  Mr.  Seaman,  here  is  your  property.  Your  nuggets  are 
identically  the  same,  but  the  gold  dust,  we  made  use  of  to 
tide  us  over  a  financial  stress,  and  it  put  us  on  our  feet  again. 
We  would  have  gone  to  the  wall  without  it.  But  it  is  safe 
and  sound,  replaced  severai  months  ago,  and  here  is  the  in 
terest  for  the  use  of  it.  See  !  here  it  is  on  my  books  to  your 
credit.  I  was  one  of  the  young  men  that  you  met  up  stairs 
that  night,  but  I  have  grown  a  beard  since  then,  which  was 
the  reason  you  did  not  recognized  me." 

Words  cannot  express  the  miner's  grateful  surprise,  but 
when  he  gained  possession  of  his  speech,  he  said,  heartily, 
"  Well,  now,  I  knowed  it.  A  lot  o'  young  men  with  such 
good  relations  back  home,  as  them  there  folks  that  writ 
them  there  letters — they're  most  always  safe  to  leave  yer 
money  with.  I  tel  yer,  famerly's  a  great  thing."  . 


LOGICAL. 

An  Evolutionist  was  talking  of  his  belief  the  other  day. 
"  Why,"  said  he,  "Evolution  can  explain  everything.  For 
instance  now — its  plain  enough  why  children  are  afraid  of 
the  dark.  When  we  were  monkeys,  we  could  escape  from 
all  the  wild  beasts  of  the  forest  easily  enough  in  the  daytime, 
but  at  night,  in  the  darkness,  we  hid  in  the  trees  with  fear 
and  trembling,  completely  at  the  mercy  of  serpents  and  all 
kinds  of  horrible  foes — and  this  is  why,  to  this  very  day, 
that  we  imagine  the  darkness  is  filled  with  horrid  shapes  and 
monsters,"  and  he  glanced  around  to  see  if  any  one  would 
dare  to  refute  it. 

"  Well,  if  that's  so,"  said  little  Rosebud,  visibly  giving 
her  curls  a  shake  to  dash  off  arepulsive  blue-bottle,  "I  think 
I  must  have  been  sugar  once,  cause  I  hate  flies  so." 


A  RACE  FOR  AN  APPLE. 

"  Let's  have  a  race  !"  cried  Billy  to  his  brothers. 

"And  I'll  give  my  big   red   apple   to   the  one  that  wins, 
said  his  pretty  little  sister. 

As  they  came  in  panting  and  breathless,  she  cried,  "  Billy  ! 
its  yours  !  you  came  in  ahead." 

He  planted  his  teeth  in  its  juicy  red  cheek,  then  recoiled 
with  a  shudder. 

"I    didn't   win  the   race   after  all,"  he   said  dryly,  "for 
there's  been  a  big  worm  got  in  ahead  o'  me." 


THE  EDITOR'S  OFFICE. 


CHRISTMAS. 

So  the  old  year  is  sinking  slowly,  but  surely  to  its  latter 
end  !  We  may  mourn  its  decease,  but  we  meet  it  with  good 
cheer  amid  family  rejoicings.  Christmas  is  the  time  of 
good  cheer  and  happy  reunions  ;  the  children  are  all  a  tip 
toe  with  expectancy,  and  as  the  warm  breath  of  summer 
gradually  gives  place  to  the  settling  chill  of  the  dying  year, 
we  bury  past  animosities,  forget  old  troubles  and  turn 
our  thoughts  above  the  common  places  of  everyday  life. 
When  the  crisp  air  tingles  our  cheeks  we  catch  the  spirit  of 


expectancy  from  each  other;  the  dispersed  members  of 
families  long  to  meet  once  more,  the  holiday  attire  is  donned 
and  all  the  world  seems  kind  and  smiling. 

When  the  children  begin  to  talk  of  Christmas,  fond  parents 
remember  with  sweet  sadness  the  dear  old  bye-gone  days  when 
they  were  themselves  bright,  happy  children.  The  present 
seems  drawn  closer  to  the  past ;  the  children's  joys  and  sor 
rows  seem  more  closely  blended  with  our  own,  until  at  length 
amid  laughter  and  romping,  we  forget  that  we  are  children 
no  longer. 

Come   dear  old   father    Christmas  with  thy    mirth    and 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


laughter!  Come /or  the  children  !  Come  for  the  parents  ! 
and  bring,  and  in  the  plenteousness  of  thy  love,  toys  for  the 
little  ones  and  sweet,  happy  reminiscences  for  all.  Lift  pur 
souls  above  the  petty  cares  and  troubles  of  every  day  life, 
and  keep  ever  before  us  the  blameless  life  of  Him  who  was 
sacrificed  on  the  cross  ! 

Christmas  is  the  time  when  we  should  banish  all  unhappy 
thoughts.  What  should  we  care  that  we  are  all  a  year  older, 
or  for  the  past  sorrows?  Let  us  say  with  the  poet : 

"Then  what  avail  are  grief  and  tears, 

Since  life  that  came  must  go, 
And  brief  the  longest  tide  of  years 

As  waves  that  ebb  and  flow. 
"  For  each,  oh,  be  there  many  years, 

Apart  from  every  woe  ; 
The  blue  serene  which  heaven  wears, 
When  waves  scarce  ebb  and  flof." 

When  the  midnight  chimes  ring  out  upon  the  expectant 
air  and  toll  the  knell  of  another  departed  year,  the  GOLDEN 
ERA  will  have  entered  upon  the  thirty-fifth  year  of  its  exist 
ence. 

This  original  publication  has  stood  the  shock  of  many  a 
reverse.  It  is  like  a  circum-polar  star  which  has  sunk  to  its 
lower  culmination,  without  going  out  of  sight  altogether.  It 
is  in  the  ascendant  now,  and  will  gradually  climb  to  the 
zenith,  until  it  shines  out  with  a  pure  and  effulgent  lustre. 
The  star  of  the  GOLUEA  ERA'S  destiny  will  never  set — it  has 
too  many  friends;  and  those  who  lost  sight  of  it  when  it 
went  down,  down,  close  to  the  horizon,  now  begin  to  recog 
nize  it  again  as  it  ascends ;  and  they  welcome  it  cordially,  too, 
as  the  friends  of  their  bye-gone  days. 

We  are  pleased  to  be  able  to  say  that  the  GOLDEN  ERA 
has  of  late  made  wonderful  strides,  as  the  last  numbers  must 
indicate.  We  may  cordially  thank  our  supporters  and  wish 
them  a  Merry  Christmas  and  a  Happy  New  Year, 


WOMEN  AS   WRITERS. 

In  a  back  number  of  the  GOLDEN  ERA  we  find  it  stated 
that  Mr.  J.  M.  Foard,  one  of  the  original  proprietors,  com 
plains  that  the  effect  of  allowing  women  to  contribute  was  to 
kill  this  journal  with  their  "namby-pamby,  school-girl 
trash."  The  GOLDEN  ERA  does  not  seem  to  be  very  dead 
just  now  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  many  of  our  articles  come 
from  female  writers.  Perhaps  Mr.  Foard  had  some 
grounds  for  his  unhappy  remark,  but  however  that  may  be 
he  was  not  careful  enough  in  arriving  at  his  conclusion.  The 
only  grounds  that  we  can  admit  he  has  any  claim  to,  is  the 
fact  that  women  more  often  write  of  what  they  know,  and 
should  know  least  about,  than  men  do.  In  the  case  of  gen 
eral  experience  of  life  men  see  more,  and  are  obliged  to 
learn  more  than  women.  When  a  woman  writes  a  story  she 
is,  in  most  cases,  obliged  to  gai..  her  knowledge  of  the 
world  from  reading  other  authors,  and  as  a  natural  conse 
quence  her  writings  are  more  or  less  formed  after  the  style  of 
some  favorite  writer.  There  is  a  very  interesting  book  by 
J.  S.  Mill  called  "The  Subjection  of  Women  "—not  the 
subjugation  mind,  in  which  the  author  show.s  very  clearly 
that  women's  writing  is  not  of  necessity  inferior  to  that  of 
men.  The  great  difference,  as  he  points  out,  is  that  as  yet 
women,  in  their  writings,  have  not  originated  a  style  of  their 
own :  that  as  men  were  the  originators  of  science  and  litera 
ture,  women  who  are  as  yet  only  beginners  in  these  subjects 
have  been  under  the  necessity  of  copying,  as  all  young 
writers  are,  the  only  style  in  existence  ;  that  when  women 
are  sufficiently  far  advanced  to  originate  a  new  style  of  lit 
erature  in  which  they  can  give  full  swing  to  their  feelings, 
a  new  era  will  begin  in  the  writing  of  fiction. 

There  seems  to  be  a  good  deal  of  truth  in  this,  and  it  pro 
bably  explains  why  we  have  had  no  female  writer  equal  to 
Dickens,  Thackery,  Shakespeare,  etc.  What  can  respectable 
women  (as  a  rule)  know  about  many  of  the  subjects,  which 
have  made  the  reputation  of  these  writers  ?  We  have  been 
accustomed  to  look  upon  the  styles  of  these  writers  as  the 
acme  of  story-telling,  because  we  have  not  as  yet  seen  the 
other  side.  There  is  a  great  field  in  literature  open  to 
women  in  the  future,  if  they  will  only  try  to  discover  a  new 
style.  Now  a-days  women  have  much  more  encouragement 
to  write  than  they  had  a  few  years  ago.  They  write  much 
more  for  magazines  than  of  old,  and  also  read  more.  Maga 
zines  are  read  just  about  twice  as  often  by  women  as  by 
men,  and  the  former  appear  to  be  beginning  to  take  an  interest 
in  each  other's  writings.  We  have  often  heard  women  re 
fuse  to  read  certain  books  because  they  happened  to  be  written 
by  persons  of  their  own  sex;  but  we  hope  such  sentiments 
have  died  out  by  this  time. 


haps  more  toward  it  than  Adam  Smith  or  John  Stuart  Mill. 
Jf  there  had  been  no  Adam  Smith  there  would  have 
been  no  Henry  George,  and  those  who  are  inclined 
to  give  George  the  best  praise,  because  he  has  built 
upon  the  life  work  of  the  earlier  political  economists,  and 
has  raised  it  one  step  nearei  the  objective  point,  should  re 
member  that  the  science  of  political  economy  as  it  stands  at 
present,  will  never  completely  solve  the  problem.  To  solve 
this  complex  question  it  is  necessary  to  touch  upon  many 
more  sciences  than  are  usually  supposed  to  be  necessary  for 
its  solution.  The  best  example  of  our  meaning  will  be 
found  in  a  close  perusal  of  Buckle's  "  History  of  Civilization 
in  England. "  The  political  economists  of  the  present  schoo  1 
confine  themselves  strictly  to  one  narrow  course  of  argument. 
In  all  solution  hitherto  propounded  (or  nearly  all)  the  ele 
ment  of  human  character,  for  instance,  has  been  ignored. 
Thus  it  is  then,  that  a  new  class  of  thinkers  is  beginning  to 
be  required  ;  for  as  the  science  stands  now,  it  has  been 
carried  to  such  a  degree  of  perfection  that  a  man  similar  to 
Buckle  is  required,  who  will  take  the  investigation  of  meta- 
physicians.'historians,  naturalists,  etc.,  and  forces  them  to  a 
single  point,  namely  ;  a  "  science  of  existence,"  or  some  such 
term  in  substance.  As  we  conceive  it,  all  the  sciences  tend 
to  the  betterment  of  the  human  race  ;  so  that  each  indivi 
dual  science  is  but  a  factor  in  the  whole  equation.  The 
undertaking  of  Buckle  will  be  again  taken  up  where  he  un 
fortunately  left  it  b  y  his  untimely  death,  and  carried  on  by 
philosophers  of  a  new  grade. 

One  of  the  first  things  necessary  to  establish  is  (it  appears 
to  us)  that  there  are,  in  nature,  no  hard  and  fast  rules  of 
universal  application.  This  is  generally  understood  in  a 
vague  sense  by  a  great  number  of  unthinking  people  as  well 
as  by  the  thoughtful.  But  in  thes-e  simple  words  there  is 
something  back  of  the  sense  in  which  it  appears  to  strike 
most  people.  Take  the  human  will  for  instance.  It  cannot 
be  denied  that  the  human  will  is  subject  to  extraneous  in 
fluences,  though  it  is  to  a  great  extent  under  the  control  of 
each  individual.  If  the  human  will  is  not  absolute,  nothing 
can  be  absolute  for  reasons  which  it  would  take  too  long 
here  to  explain.  Every  mind  is  the  slave  of  its  own  consti 
tution,  and  all  minds  are  not  subject  to  the  same  influences 
If  the  wish,  which  is  father  to  the  thought,  does  not  occur, 
the  thought  will  not  occur.  We  can  never  make  all  men 
wish  alike  much  less  think  alike  ;  hence  it  is  an  utter  fallacy 
to  attempt  to  make  rules  of  universal  application.  Every 
rule  must  admit  of  exceptions,  and  every  rule  should  be  an 
exact  mean  between  extremes. 

The  science  of  political  economy  has  been  pushed  to  a  great 
extent ,  but  the  art  remains  yet  to  be  discovered.  John  Stuart 
Mill  says  in  substance  that  art  presupposes  science,  and  that 
each  art  is  evolved  frcm  either  one  or  several  sciences. 
Hitherto  political  economists  have  not  used  a  sufficient  number 
of  sciences  to  discover  the  art  they  are  in  quest  of ;  but  as  it  is 
first  necessary  to  pursue  each  individual  science  to  the  end, 
the  work  that  has  now  been  done  will  be  of  lasting  %-alue 
in  this  connection.  It  appears  to  us  that  the  point  has  now 
been  reached  beyond  which  very  little  can  be  be  done  until 
some  new  science  is  applied. 

This  is  an  all-important  subject,  and  it  is  remarkable  that 
more  men  do  not  take  it  up  in  preference  to  other  subjects. 


PROF.  W.  T.  ROSS. 

It  is  with  pleasure  that  we  call  attention  to  the  important 
work  being  accomplished  by  this  well  known  elocutionist. 
In  addition  to  supervising  the  proofs  of  his  new  book, 
"Voice  Culture  and  Elocution,"  he  has  a  large  class  in 
Sacramento,  another  at  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  of  this  city,  regular 
classes  at  Trinity  School,  and  also  classes  and  private  pupils 
at  his  parlors  in  St.  Ann's  building,  No.  6  Eddy  street. 
Prof.  Ross  is  thorough  in  everything  he  does.  There  is  no 
half-way  work,  and  the  results  of  his  work  border  on  the 
marvelous.  We  doubt  if  there  is  another  teacher  in  the  country 
more  successful  in  voice  building.  He  has  strengthened 
many  a  weak  voice,  and  thereby  added  the  power  of  useful 
ness  to  professional  men  and  women.  Prof.  Ross  is  a 
scholar,  and  has  a  thorough  understanding  of  that  which  he 
teaches.  To  be  under  his  instrutcion  means  hard  work,  and 
improvement.  His  terms  are  reasonable.  His  book  will  be 
sent  to  any  address  for  Si.oo  Write  for  circulars  to  Prof. 
Ross.  6  Eddy  street. 


POLITICAL  ECONOMY. 


Has  Henry  George  resolved  the  Politico  Economic  ques 
tion  ?    No  !  decided!      ' 


lly,  he  has  not,  though  he  has  done  per- 


PRIZE    POEM. 

In  November  we  offered  a  prize  .of  thirty  dollars  for  the 
best  poem  on  Sutro  Hights.  About  twenty  poems  were 
placed  in  competition  by  December  ist.  The  judges  Hon. 
A.  I.  Moulder,  J.  J.  Owen  and  S.  M  Shortridge,  in  award 
ing  the  prize  to  "A  Legend  on  Sutro  Hights,"  Madge 
Morris  proved  to  be  the  lucky  poet.  The  poem  isprinted 
in  this  issue.  All  who  have  read  the  advance  sheets  pro 
nounced  the  poem  worthy  the  genius  of  the  talented  writer 


THE   GOLDEN    ERA. 


SKETCHES  ON  WHEELS. 

Mr.  Harr  Wagner  will  resume  his  sketch,  "  On  Wheels," 
•with  the  January  number.  He  will  visit  San  Antonio,  New 
Orleans,  Louisville,  Cincinnati,  Washington,  Philadelphia, 
New  York,  Boston  and  Chicago. 


VAIN  NOTES. 

"Re-married,"     by      C.     R.,     rejected.     All 
writing    should    entertain,    or    preach    a     moral. 

Yours  simply  stupefies  the  intellect. Dr.  A.  S. 

Condon,  the  poet  of  Utah,  has  been  writing  a 
humorous  critique  on  literary  forgeries  for  the 

Salt  Lake  Tribune. "The  Land  Question,"  by 

Judge  Maguire,  is    the  title  of  a  series  of  articles 

to  appear  in  the  ERA. C.  S.  W.     In  reply  to 

your  question,  "Name  the  three  brightest  women 
in  California,"  would  say,  you  analyze  your 
self,  then  ask,  "Who  are  the  other  two  ?" M. 

T.  K.     The    San  Franciscan  is    the  best    literary 

weekly   on    the    Coast. Hazel.     Glad    to  see 

you  back, but  regret  to  say  that  your  verses  are 
too  amatory  for  publication. A  continued 


story  by  Carrie  Stevens  Walter,  a  poem  by  Madge 
Morris,  "  A  Bear  Hunt  in  Mendocino,"  by  F.  M. 
Stone,  "Ethics  of  Suicide,"  by.  Dr.  Brown,  "The 
Geological  Phases  of  Sutro  Heights,"  by  Adele 
Brown  Carter,  and  a  number  of  other  articles  in 
tended  for  this  issue,  will  appear  in  the  January 
number. "An  unexpected  Smack"  has  been  re 
jected.  The  merit  of  a  smack  is  in  the  sweetness 
expected.  Try  your  unexpected  smack  upon  a 

magazine  or  journal  edited  by  a  lady. Will  the 

lady  who  sends  us  a  poem  beginning,  "  Let  me 
kiss  you,"  please  send  her  address  to  the  editor  of 
the  Maverick. A.  K.  You  asked  me  confi 
dentially  why  the  ERA  does  not  raise  its  standard 
and  pin  it  up  ?  I  reply,  because  you  would  not 
read  it,  nor  would  the  other  subscribers  if  it  were 
not  for  the  delightful  sensation  of  finding  now  and 
then  a  rare  gem,  and  more  rarely  an  error  in  its 
pages  devoted  to  the  literature — not  of  the  cul 
tured,  but  of  the  people. Amador.  We  can 
not  accept  your  "Christmas  Story".  Christmas 
literature  must  be  very  good,  else  it  is  very  bad. 
It  is  mostly  the  latter. 


THE    LIBRARY  TABLE. 


B.  P.  Moore's  book,  "Endura,"  has  met  with  a 
fair  and  steady  sale.  The  entire  edition  will  be 
disposed  of  within  six  months. 

Mrs.  Jean  Bruce  Washburn  is  one  of  the  most 
voluminous  writers  in  California,  and  belongs  to 
the  old  school  of  authors.  She  has  eight  or  ten 
ordinary  volumes  of  unpublished  MSS.,  of  stories, 
poems  and  dramas,  also  as  much  more  that  has 
appeared  in  print.  She  used  to  write  for  the  early 
Eastern  literary  journals.  Her  industry  is  mar 
velous,  and  all  her  writings  show  the  evidence  of 
culture  and  careful  work. 

"  Montezuma,"  and  the  "Legend  of  a  Kiss,"  are 
for  sale  at  C.  Beach's  store. 

THE  ART  AMATEUR  for  December,  is  devoted  specially 
to  illustrations  of  the  unique  style  of  Bume  Jones'  works  of 
art. 

OUTING,  beautifully  illustrated,  contains  a  charming 
article  by  Thomas  Stevens,  "  Around  the  World  on  a. 
Bicycle." 

THE  SOUTHERN  BIVOUAC,  devoted  mostly  to  Southern 
war  articles,  presents  an  interesting  class  of  literature  from 
the  other  standpoint. 

THE  CENTURY  contains  a  humorous  sketch  by  Mark 
Twain  on  the  war,  in  which  he  says  "  he  learned  more  about 
retreating  than  the  man  who  invented  retreating"  The 
short  stories  are  utterly  pointless,  but  the  engravings  are 
superb. 

THE  LEGEND  OF  A  Kiss,  by  Henry  Sade,  is  a  charm 
ing  yet  tragic  story  told  in  verse,  of  the  flower  that  grows  in 
England,  called  the  "Kissing  Cup."  There  are  many 
pretty  lines  and  ideas  which  are  worthy  of  a  little  more 
mechanical  skill  in  the  carving  and  setting. 

LIPPINCOTT'S  MAGAZINE  promises  a  new  dress,  and  new 
editorial  management  for  its  next  number  with  the  price  re 
duced  to  $2.00.  Its  articles  are  always  good,  and  of  great 
interest,  while  the  short  stories  are  noted  for  brightness  and 
motive. 

THE  DOMESTIC  MONTHLY  contains  an  interesting  article 


on  "How  to  make  Christmas  Presents,"  very   appropriate 
for  this  time  of  year. 

THE  BROOKLYN  MAGAZINE  has  an  interesting  article  from 
the  pen  of  Canon  Farrar  entitled,  "Shall  America  Have  A 

Westminster  Abbey  ? ' ' 

THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  REVIEW  replete  with  national 
articles,  hag  a  gem  in  Robert  Ingersoll's  tribute  to  Lincoln 
in  "Motley  and  Monarch,"  while  Rosecran's  sketch,  "The 
Mistakes  of  Grant,"  is  in  exceeding  bad  taste. 

ARTHURS  HOME  'MAGAZINE  presents  items  and  short 
stories  relative  to  the  domestic  circle,  particularly  a  sketch 
on  Christmas  gifts. 

ST.  NICHOLAS  with  a  new  cover,  comes  in  all  its  glory, 
radiant  with  story  and  picture,  Mrs.  Bamett's  tale  of  "The 
Little  Lord  of  Fauntleroy, "  increasing  in  exquisite  tender 
ness,  and  Frank  Stockton's  "  Fruit  of  the  Fragile  Palm," 
provoking  a  comical  smile. 

THE  ART  INTERCHANGE  brings  an  autumn  study  as  well 
as  the  usual  designs  and  art  decorations. 

THE  ST  Louis  MAGAZINE  contains  a  short  sketch  of 
Madge  Morris,  our  California  poet. 

THE  CURRENT  issues  1,500  sample  copies  a  week,  and 
sends  them  broadcast  over  the  country. 

THE  PACIFIC  MONTHLY,  a  new  musical  and  literary 
journal,  published  by  Broderson  &  Co.,  has  a  sketch  on  Califor 
nia  wild  flowers,  by  Ella  Sterling  Cummins,  and  also  a 
sketch  of  Edgar  S.  Kelley. 

It  was  our  good  fortune  recently  to  attend  a  reception 
tendered  Walter  B.  Lyons,  Grand  Secretary  of  Odd  Fellows 
by  the  member  of  the  order  in  this  city,  and  we  have  never 
seen  a  more  artistically  arranged  table  than  the  one  set  on 
that  occasion  by  Mrs.  Kate  L.  Hart,  of  the  "  Home  Lunch 
Room."  It  was  in  buffet  style,  with  a  center  piece  three 
feet  high,  resting  on  a  French  plate  mirror  in  a  heavily 
chased  silver  frame.  Crystal  and  silver  epergnes  and  bon 
bon  stands  occupied  the  four  corners  of  the  buffet,  and  on 
each  end  stood  two  massive  candelabra,  every  available  spot 
•was  filled  with  the  choicest  eatables,  and  the  whole  was 
profoundly  decorated  with  smilax  and  chrysanthemum. 
Although  but  recently  starting  in  this  line  of  business,  Mrs. 
Hart  has  met  with  the  most  unqualified  success,  and  already 
has  an  assured  position  as  caterer  for  the  California  Com- 
mandry  of  Knights  Templar,  the  S.  F.  and  Cal.  Chapters  of 
R.  A.  M.,  the  Congregational  Club  of  San  Francisco,  and 
many  others. 


502 


THE  GOLDEN  KR.\. 


THE  THEATERS. 


XKVADA'S  second  advent  into  San  Francisco  was  almost 
a  disappointment. 

Ju'Uic  AT  THK  KAI.UWIN.  -Judic,  the  fair,  piquant  Pari 
sian  comedienne  !  She  makes  the  greatest  "hit  "  with  her 
eyes.  The  voice  sings  French,  the  naughty,  beautiful  eyes 
talk  purely  accented  English. 

During  the  season  the  following  combinations  will  appear 
at  the  Bush-street  theatre,  presenting,  as  it  does,  a  list  of 
first-class  attractions  rarely  offered. 

M.  B.   Leavitt's  European  Specialty  Company. 


Alvin  Joslin  Co.  and  his  ¥10,000  Challenge  Brass  Band. 
Alice    Harrison  in    her    New    Musical    Comedy,    "Hot 

Grand  Italian  Opera  Troupe— 50  Artists. 
&  Hoey's  "  Parlor  Match"  Company. 


Water." 

Milan 

Evans 

Buffalo  Bill  arid  his  Great  Show. 

Harrison  &  Gourlav's  Co. 

Tony  Pastor's  Grand  Combination. 

Edouin  &  Sanger's  "Bunch  of  Keys"  Co. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tony  Hart  in  their  New  Comedy,  "  But 
tons." 

Lillian  Russell  Opera  Bouffe  Company. 

Eugene  Tompkins'  "  A  Tin  Soldier"  Company. 

Mile.  Aimee,  in  English. 

Harry  and  John  Kernell's  Double  Attraction. 

Baker  &  Farron  in  their  "  Soap  Bubbles." 

Tony  Denier  "s  Pantomime  Company. 

Hallen  &  Hart  First  Prize  Ideals. 

THE  Rankins  are  nothing,  if  not  successful — and  they  are 
never  nothing. 

"  Allan  Dare  "  is  a  greater  success  than  was  even  "  A 
Wall-street  Bandit,"  which  it  succeeded  at  the  California. 
The  secret  of  attraction  in  its  first  night  was  the  debut  of 
Mrs.  Susie  Williams.  Critical  San  Francisco  was  evidently 
pleased  with  her  acting. 

Miss  Trella  Foltz  has  a  prominent  part  in  "Allan 
Dare."  She  has  a  sweet  girlish  face,  and  witching  manner, 
and  is  winning  the  hard-earned  laurels  of  her  chosen  profes 
sion. 

"Allan  Dare"  is  an  American  play  dramatized  by  an 
American  author,  and  enthusiastically  received  by  San  Fran 
ciscans — Aiiit_rii::ins  are  slowly  learning  to  appreciate  their 


own.  The  arrangement  of  the  play  is  good — but  it  could  be 
improved. 

McK.ee  Rankin,  as  Macbeth,  was  not  at  his  best.  In  "  Al 
lan  Dare,"  he  makes  of  the  ideal  man,  a  living  icalty,  Mr. 
Rankin  is  so  inimitable  in  "49  "  that  one  who  has  seen  him 
in  that  play  imagines  a  subtle  flame  of  it  pervades  whatever 
else  he  undertakes. 

Little  Minnie  Tittle  is  a  cunning  "  Midget," 

Col.  Ed.  Price  is  the  most  popular  manager  the  California 
has  had  for  years. 

J.  J.  Wallace,  as  Mungo  Park,  is  master  of  the  art  of  im 
personation. 

With  so  strong  a  cast,  "Allan  Dare  "  could  not  be  other 
than  the  success  which  it  is.  11—,- 

Mrs.  McKee  Rankin  is  in  the  country.  The  absence^  of 
this  favorite  of  San  Francisco  artists  is  strikingly  conspicu 
ous. 

The  latest  attraction  at  the  Tivoli  is  the  "  Three  Guards 
men."  The  performance  at  this  popular  place  of  amusement 
is  so  very  good  that,  were  it  not  for  the  smoke  of  tobacco 
and  the  smell  of  beer,  one  could  mistake  it  for  a  dollar-and- 
a-half-admittance  opera. 

Miss  Mabel  Bert  has  an  exquisitely  pretty  form. 

"  Dreams,"  at  the  Bush,  are  very  waking  dreams — the 
kind  of  dreams  one  likes  to  see  repeated.  There  is  enough 
of  nightmare  in  real  life. 

Charlie  Reed's  laughter-provoking  burlesques  continue  to 
keep  crowded  houses  at  the  Standard.  He  is  the  prince  of 
fun-makers,  and 

"The  sad,  old  earth  must  borrow  its  rnirth." 

(Ella  Wheeler  and  Col  Joyce  will  please  observe  that  this 
line  is  quoted). 

"  The  Battle  of  Waterloo  "  still  rages  in  its  mysterious 
panorama,  which  mysteriousness  is  probably  the  hidden 
source  of  its  long  continuance.  There  is  always  the  witchery 
of  fascination  about  that  which  we  cannot  fathom. 

Mazzanovich's  scene  painting  is  making  him  an  enviable 
fame. 

"  Around  the  World  in  Eighty  Days"  will  be  the  Kiralfys' 
opening  at  the  California. 


PUBLISHERS'  DEPARTMENT. 


Christmas    Goods. 

At  this  season  of  the  year,  when  beautiful  and  appropiate 
holiday  presents  constitute  the  principal  thought  in  the  minds 
of  nine  out  of  ten  people,  we  feel  that  we  can  interest  a  pro 
portionate  part  of  our  readers  by  drawning  attention  to  the 
magnificent  selection  of  goods  which  Col.  Andrews,  of  the 
Diamond  Palace,  has  just  imported  from  Paris  and  Berlin. 
These  goods  include  superb  toilet  sets,  various  useful  articles 
inclosed  in  exquisite  ornaments,  ladies'  writing  desks,  beauti 
ful  plaques  set  in  plush,  satchels,  ladies'  work  boxes  and 
leather  goods  of  all  descriptions.  Next  to  the  uniquely 
artistic  devices  and  shapes  in  which  these  goods  are  worked, 
the  things  which  attracts  one's  attention  most  in  regard  to 
them,  is  the  surprisingly  low  prices.  Of  the  Col.'s  grand 
collection  of  diamonds  it  seems  almost  superfluous  to  speak. 
His  reputation  as  the  diamond  merchant  of  the  Pacific  Coast, 
has  long  since  been  established.  We  may  mention,  how 
ever,  that,  being  somewhat  overstocked,  the  Col.  has  deter 
mined  to  mark  all  his  precious  stones  at  5  per  cent  above 
cost,  for  cash. 


A  Valuable  Medical  Treatise. 

The  edition  for  1886  of  the  sterling  Medical  Annual, 
known  as  Hosteller's  Aimanac,  is  now  ready,  and  may  be 
obtained,  free  of  cost,  of  druggists  and  general  country 
dealers  in  all  parts  of  the  United  States,  Mexico,  and  in 
deed  in  every  civilized  portion  of  the  Western  Hemisphere. 
This  Almanac  has  been  issued  regularly  al  the  commence 
ment  of  every  year  for  over  one-fifth  of  a  century-  It  com 
bines,  with  the  soundest  practical  advice  for  the  preserva 


tion  and  restoralion  of  heallh,  a  large  amount  of  interesting 
and  amusing  light  reading,  and  the  calandar,  astromical 
calculations,  chronological  items,  &c,,  are  prepared  with 
great  care,  and  will  be  found  entirely  accurate.  The  issue 
of  Hosteller's  Almanac  for  1886  will  probably  be  the  largest 
edition  of  a  medical  work  ever  published  in  any  country. 
The  proprietors,  Messrs.  Hosteller  &  Co.,  Pillsburgh,  Pa., 
on  receipl  of  a  Iwo  cent  stamp,  will  forward  a  copy  by  mail 
lo  any  person  who  cannol  secure  one  in  his  neighborhood. 

IM:  4  i»      I'm*. 


Mr.  A.  H.  Baldwin,  formerly  McDowell  &  Baldwin,  of 
the  New  San  Francisco  Carpet  Beating  Machine,  1321  and 
1323  Market  Street,  has  improved  new  machinery  through- 
oui.  He  calls  for  carpels,  cleans  and  relays  them,  all  in  one 
day.  Renovaling  and  refilling  carpets  a  specially.  Tele 
phone  3036.  Only  first-class  workmen  employed — no 
Chinamen. 


HOMCEOPATHIC  REMEDIES. 

We  show  elsewhere,  on  a  purple  page,  Boericke  & 
Schreck's  family  medicine  cases.  They  are  invaluable  to  res 
idents  of  the  interior.  We  take  great  pleasure  in  endorsing 
them,  and  recommend  them  lo  our  subscribers.  Send  for 
" Guide  lo  Heallh."  Seni  free  on  application.  Address. 
BOERICKK  iS:  SCHKHCK,  234  Suller  Si.,  San  Francisco. 


Read  ihe  adverlisemenl  of  Dr.  Pierce  &   Co.'s  in   ihis 
issue. 


THE  GOLDEN   ERA. 


PET    CIGARETTES 


Cigarette  smokers  who  are  willing  to  pay  a  little  more  than  the  price  charged  for  the  ordinary 
trade  Cigarettes  will  find  the 

PET  CIGARETTES  SUPERIOR  TO  ALL  OTHERS. 

They  are  made  from  the  most  delicate-flavored  and  HIGHEST-COS  F    GOLD    JLEAt 

TOBACCO    grown  in  Virginia,  and  are 

ABSOLUTELY    WITHOUT    ADULTERATION    OR    DRUGS. 

The  Richmond  Straight  Cut  No.  1  Cigarettes  are  made  from  the  same  stock  as  the 
Pets.  They  are  shorter  and  thicker  than  the  Pets,  but  the  same  weight. 

While  the  sale  of  the  adulterated  brands  of  many  American  manufacturers  has  been  prohibited 
in  Great  Britain,  our  ABSOLUTELY  PURE  GOODS  have  attained  the  largest  popular  sale 
ever  known  in  Cigarettes  in  that  country,  with  a  steadily  increasing  demand. 


RICHMOND,     VA 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


FOR   10   CEXTS. 

The  St.  Louis  Magazine,  purely  western  in  to  le  and  make 
up,  edited  by  Alexander  N.  DeMeuill,  now  in  its  isth  year- 
is  brilliantly'  illustrated,  replete  with  stories,  timely  reading 
and  humor.  *i  50  a  year.  Sample  copy  and  a  set  of  gold, 
colored  picture  cards  sent  for  10  cents.  Address  Geo.  J. 
Gilmore,  218  North  Eighth  Street,  St.  Louis,  Mo.  The 
GOLDEN  ERA  and  St.  Louis  Magazine  sent  one  year  for 
*3  25-  

Pierce  &  Co,  have  recently  placed  a  beautiful  case  of 
their  goods  in  J.  H.  Widber's  drug  store,  cor.  Market  and 
Third  St. 

Smith's  Cash  Store  is  unequalled  on  this  coast  for  the  line 
of  goods  and  prices.  Read  the  full-page  advertisement 
and  if  you  see  anything  you  want,  send  for  it.  We  will 
guarantee  that  you  will  obtain  perfect  satisfaction. 


THE  GOLD  MEDAL. 

No  California  piano  received  the  gold  medal  at  New 
Orleans,  but  Behr  Bros.,  of  New  York,  Ivers  &  Pond,  of 
Boston,  did  receive  the  medal  Kohler  &  Chase,  139  Post 
Street,  Agents. 

Nervous  Debilitated  ITIeii. 

You  are  allowed  a  free  trial  of  thirty  days  of  the  use  of  Dr. 
Dye's  Celebrated   Volcanic  Belt   with  Electric   Suspensory 


Appliances,  for  the  speedy  relief  and  permanent  cure  of 
Nervous  Debility,  loss  of  Vitality  and  Manhood,  and  all 
kindred  troubles.  Also,  for  many  other  diseases.  Complete 
restoration  to  health,  vigor  and  manhood  guaranteed.  No 
risk  is  incurred.  Illustrated  pamphlet,  with  full  informa 
tion,  terms,  etc.,  mailed  free  by  addressing  Volcanic  Belt 
Co.,  Marshall,  Mich. 

The  Fireman's  Fund  Insurance  Company  of  California. 
Home  office,  401  California  St.  The  leading  Pacific  Coast 
company.  Total  assets,  §1,473,025  76.  D.  J.  Staples, 
President.  William  J.  Button,  Secretary. 


I  ..   A.  lioniiore, 


I>. 


Dr.  Bonnore  has  been  located  in  San  Jose  for  many  years 
and  has  treated  thousands  of  difficult  cases  successfully 
Educated  abroad,  with  natural  talents  as  a  physician,  she 
has  gained  the  confidence  and  patronage  of  the  public.  If 
you  are  afflicted,  try  Dr.  Bonnore.  New  methods  are  often 
times  successful  when  all  else  fails,  and  you  may  be  assured 
of  successful  and  intelligent  treatment.  Mrs.  Bonnore  has 
her  excellent  remedy,  the  Electro-Magnetic  Liniment,  for 
sale.  It  is  a  wonderful  remedy  and  worthy  a  trial.  Call  on 
or  address  L.  A.  Bonnore,  797  and  799  South  First 
Street,  San  Jose. 

Gold  Weight  Soap  is  unsurpassed.  Ask  your  grocer  for 
it. 


MOTHERS! 


-GIVE  YOUR  CHILDREN— 


IB.  *  S. 


HOKHEOPATHIC 

COUGH    AND   CROUP 


The  Safetest,  most  Reliable,  ami  one  of 

the  Oldest  Family  medicines 

in  the    t|;«rk<-t. 


Thousands  of  families  are  constantly  using  it  in  different 
parts  of  the  Union.  Recommended  by  physicians  as  the 
most  convenient  and  surest  remedy  for  CROUP.  Keep  it 
on  hand  for  emergencies.  The  attacks  of  Croup  come  on  so 
suddenly  and  unexpectedly,  generally  in  the  middle  of  the 
night  when  medical  aid  cannot  so  readily  be  obtained,  that 
a  positive  remedy  for  croup— one  that  is  speedy  in  its  action, 
pleasant  to  the  taste,  and  always  ready  for  use— becomes  a 
great  desideratum.  All  these  conditions  are  fulfilled  by 
15.  A  N.  Homoeopathic  Cough  and  Croup 
Syrup. 

This  preparation  has  been  in  use  for  over  twenty-five 
years  ;  and  millions  of  Ijottles  have  been  consumed,  and 
thousands  of  valuable  lives  saved  !  As  a  remedy  for 
COUGHS,  Catarrh  on  the  Chest,  Bronchitis  and  Pneu 
monia,  it  is  without  a  peer,  for  children  as  well  as  adults. 
In  Asthma,  especially  Humid  Asthma,  it  greatly  aids  in 
•cutting  short  the  paroxysms  and  preventing  their  return. 

B.  A  .  S.  Homoeopathic  <-on»l>  and 
Croup  Syrup  does  away  with  the  necessity  of  resort 
ing  to  all  sorts  of  soothing  syrups  which  annually  destroy 
as  many  little  lives  as  this  preparation  saves.  It  assists 
nature  in  curing  or  relieving  all  diseases  of  the  Respira 
tory  Organs,  whether  acute  or  chronic. 

PRICE  50  CENTS.  To  be  had  at  all 
drug  M«»rrs.  Wholesale  and  retail  de 
pot  at 

BOOH  KE  &  SCHRECK'S 

HOMEOPATHIC  PHARMACY, 

234  Sutter  Street,  above  Kearny, 

SAN  FRANCISCO,  CAL. 


JOHN  W.  GARMANY, 


Manufacturer  and  Dealer  in 


AND- 


MEN'S  FURNISHING 


Shirt*  to  Order  a  Specialty. 

NO.  25  KEARNY  STREET, 

Between  Market   and    Post.  SAN  FRANCISCO. 

Fine   Kid  and     Driving  Cloves. 


TWO   FOR  THE    >RICE   OF    ONE. 


We  will  Club  the 
RANCH,  FIELD  AND  FIRESIDE 

FOR  THE 

AMERICAN     AGRICULTURIST, 
loo  Columns  and     100   Engravings  in  each  Issue. 

44th  Year.     Si. 50  a  Year. 
The  Recognized  Leading  Periodical  of  its  kind  in  the  world. 

Address  GOLDEN  ERA  CO.,  712  Montgomery  Street 


IMPORTANT   NOTICE!! 


TO    THE   PUBLIC: 

I  have  just  received  a 

Fine    and    Very    Select    Assortment 


-OF   THE- 


Latest  Styles  of  Woolens  for 

Fall  and  Winter  Wear. 

I  will  make  them  up  in  SUITS   TO   ORDER,  at  a 

GENUINE  REDUCTION  OF  40  PER  CENT. 

than  anv  other  Tailor  in  Sail    Francisco. 


BUSINESS  SUITS,  to  order,  (all  wool) from  $20  oo 

BUSINESS  PANTS,  to  order .  "  6  oo 

DRESS  PANTS,  to  order "  8  oo 

DRESS  SUITS,  to  order "  30  oo 

OVERCOATS,  to  order "  20  oo 

The  very  best  of  French  Corkscrew,  French  Piques,  French  Beaver,  to  order,  from 
$40.00  to  $50.00 

For  which  you  would  have  to  pay  the  so-called  " high-toned"  tailors  from  $65.00 
to  $75,00 ;  and  who  do  not  give  as  good  Fit  and  Workmanship  as  I  do,  at  a  reduction 
of  from  $20.00  to  $25.00.  I  have  three  stores,  and  do  the  largest  business  on  the 
Pacific  Coast.  I  buy  all  my  Goods  for  "CASH,"  and  obtain  a  discount,  which  en 
ables  me  to  sell  much  cheaper  than  the  tailors  who  are  unable  to  secure  this  advantage ; 
and  to  keep  a  variety  of  goods  which  cannot  be  found  in  any  other  tailoring  establish 
ment  in  the  city. 


Honest  Dealing*.      Prompt    Attention.      Perfect  Fit.    and 
the  Best  of  Workmanship   Guaranteed,   or  No  Sale. 


My  Cutting  Department  is  Composed  of  the  Yery  Best  Cutters  that 
can  be  obtained  in  America. 


Don't  fail  to  give  me  a  call  before  buying  elsewhere,  and  see  my  immense  selection. 


"THE     TAILOR," 

2O3    MONTGOMERY,     724     MARKET,     111O     and     1112    MARKET,     11    and     13 

TURK     STREETS, 

SAN    FRANCISCO,    CALIFRONIA. 


F.    L.   HEATH, 

STUDIO, 

218  Post  St..  Room  24,  SAN   FK  \  i 


VIRGIL    WILLIAMS, 

DIRECTOR    ART    SCHOOL, 
430  Pine  Street. 


J.  A.  CRACKBON, 


PORTRAIT  ARTIST    IN   WATER   COLORS 
AND   CRAYON, 


M.   STRAUS, 

ARTIST, 
15  Dupont  Street. 


Room  63,  Third  Floor. 


Miss  IDA  LATHROF,  Miss  JKNNIK  RICH. 

MRS.   M.  E.   FOUNTAIN, 


STUDIO   AND  ART  DECORATIVE   ROOMS, 
PHELAN  BUILDING,  ROOM  329. 


ASTLEY  D.   M.  COOPER, 

ARTIST, 
Room  17,  St.'Ann's  Building. 


Instructions    given     in    Crayon,    Portraits    and 
Sketches.      Landscape    Painting   in   Oil.       Flower 


Painting  a  Specialty.  Luster  Painting  (new  and 
beautiful  work).  Painting  on  Plush  and  Satin. 
Studio  open  to  visitors. 


MRS.  C.  E.   DANIELWITZ, 

ARTIST, 

ROOM  75,  ST.  ANN'S  BUILDING 

Opposite  Baldwin  Hotel,  San  Francisco. 


ALBERT    MORTON, 

STUDIO, 


331  PHELAN  BUILDING. 


Fine  Crayon  Portraits  a  Specialty.      Lessons  in 
Drawing  and  Crayon.     Hours  10  A.  M.  to  4  p.  M. 


E.  J.  LEWIS, 

ARTIST, 

ROOM  75,  ST.  ANN'S  BIMI.IMNG 

Opposite  Baldwin  Hotel,  San  Francisco. 


C.  A.  ROGERS, 

ARTIST, 
Room  216,  Phelan  Building,  SAN  FRANCISCO 


A.  RAY  DIETRICK, 

ART   SCHOOL, 


L.  ROETHE, 

STUDIO, 

Post  St.,  Room  24,  SAN  FRANCISCO 


Penmanship,  Painting,  Drawing  and  Designing 
Cards  and  Private  Letters  written.  Art  Needle 
work.  Kensington  Luster.  White  Velvet  Paint 
ing- 

104  EDDY  STREET. 


DR.PIERCE'S  ELECTRO-MAGNETIC  BELTS. 


THE  ABOVE  ILLUSTRATION  TRUTHFULLY  REPRESENTS  ONE  OF  THE  GREATEST  REMEDIAL 
agents   in   existence— namely,    I>r.  Pierce's  Electro-iflagnetic  Belt,    complete   and  durable,   by 
means  of  which  the  human  body  may  be  supplied   with   continuous   currents   of  Electricity  and  Magnetism.     This  Belt  is 
different  from  ALL  others,  and  will  produce  an  electric  current   WITH   or  WITHOUT   ACIDS.     It   gives   satisfaction 
where  others  have  failed,  and  will  positively  relieve  and  cure   ALL   diseases   and  weaknesses  of  male  and  female  that  it   is 


ill  positively 
possible  to  relieve  or  cure  by  means  of  Electricity  and  Magnetism. 

For  full  particulars  of  this  Electro-Medical  appliance  address  the  undersigned. 


n   UR 


If  Ruptured,  send  for  our  New  Illustrated 
Book.     Address 


MAGNETIC  ELASTIC  TRUSS  COMPANY, 


7OJ,     Sacramento     Street, 


San     Francisco,     Cal. 


LOTS      TO      SUIT      AT      LOW      PRICKS.         SPECIAL      RATES 


VE«ETABI,E,     FLOIVEII       AND       TREE       SEEOS.         Fruit  and     Ornamental 

Trees,    Flowering    Bulbs    and    Plants.        f^arge    Stock.  Best    Quality     at 
I,ovv  Rates.        Address  for  Catalogues, 

R.   J.   TRUMBULL    &  CO., 

41?)    &    421  ^ansome  St.,  S.  F, 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


[AKE 


SIMMONS 

LIVER  REGULATOR 


For  all  Diseases  of  the 

Liver,  Kidneys,  Stomach  and  Spleen. 

This  purely  vegetable  pre 
paration,  now  so  celebrated  as  a 
Family  Medicine,  originated  in 
the  South  in  1828.  It  acts 
gently  on  the  Bowels  and 
Kidneys  and  corrects  the 
action  of  the  Liver,  and  is,  there 
fore,  the  best  preparatory 
medicine,  whatever  the  sick 
ness  may  prove  to  be.  In  all 
common  diseases  it  will,  un 
assisted  by  any  other  medi 
cine,  effect  a  speedy  cure. 


The  Regulator  is  safe  to  administer  in  any 
condition  of  the  system,  and  under  no  circum 
stances  can  it  do  harm.  It  will  invigorate 


like  a  glass  of  wine,  but  is  no  intoxicating  bever 
age  to  lead  to  intemperance;  will  promote  di 
gestion,  dissipate  headache,  and  gener 
ally  tone  up  the  system.  The  dose  is  small, 
not  unpleasant,  and  its  virtues  undoubted. 

No  loss  of  time,  no  inter 
ruption  or  stoppage  of 
business  while  taking  the 
Regulator. 

Children  complaining  of 
Colic,  Headache,  or  Sick 
Stomach,  a  teaspoonful  or 
more  will  give  relief. 

If  taken  occasionally  by  pa« 
tients  exposed  to  MALARIA, 
will  expel  the  poison  and  protect 
them  from  attack. 
A  PHYSICIAN'S  OPINION. 
I  have  been  practicing  medicine  for  twenty  years, 
and  have  never  been  able  to  put  up  a  vegetable 
compound  that  would,  like  Simmons  Liver  Regu 
lator,  promptly  and  effectively  move  the  Liver  to 
action,  and  at  the  same  time  aid  (instead  of  weak 
ening)  the  digestive  and  assimilative  powers  of  the 
system.    L.  M.  HINTON,  M.  D. , Washington,  Ark. 

f  EE  THAT  YOU  GET  THE  GENUINE. 

PREPARED    BY 

J.  H.  Zeilin  &  Co.,  Philadelphia,  Pa, 


The  New  Instantaneous  Process. 


i  mil 


Send  six  cents  for  postage,  and  receive 
free,  a  costly  box  of  goods  which  will  help 
all,  of  either  sex,  to  more  money  right  away 
•  •than  anything  ehe  in  this  world.  Fortunes 
await  the  workers,  absolutely  sure.  Terms  mailed  free. 
TKL-IJ  &  Co.,  Augusta,  Maine. 


SEEDS. 

E.  J.  BO  WEN'S   large   Illustrated,   Descriptive  and 
Priced  Catalogue  of 

Vegetables,  Flower,  Glover,  Grass 
and  Alfalfa  Seeds 

Mailed  to  all  applicants  free.     Address 

E.  J.  BOWEK,  Seed  Merchant, 

815  and  817   S  si  us  OHIO  Street,  *.  F 


W.    11.     incCORUHCK, 

Importer  and  Manufacturer  of 

A-WD 


Of  American  and  Foreign  Marbles, 

—  AND  — 

SCOTCH      UBAMTE,     MARBLE 
MAXTKLS.  ETC. 

827  Market  St.,  bet,  4th  &  5th 

SAN    FRANCISCO. 
£3TSend  for  designs  and  prices. 


CURRY    &    IIRO. 

113  San  sonic  St.,  San  Francisco. 


Agents  for  Colt's  Fire  Arms,  Parker  Guns,  Remington 
Arms  and  Smith  &  Wesson  Pistols,  Cartridges,  Shells 
Primers,  Gun  Wadding  and  Percussion  Caps.  Discount  to 
the  trade.  Mention  the  GOLDEN  ERA. 


FAMILIES 

LEAVINGJTHE  CITY. 

i|FURNITURE,  TRUNKS,  PIANOS, 
Pictures,  Carpets  stored  and  taken  care  of. 
Having  no  rent  to  pay,  we  store  goods 
low.  Advances  made.  References,  dat 
ing  back  2 1  years  given. 

H.   \\  I  M>i:i    &  CO.,  310  Stockton  St. 


LADIES 


PrLLA-SOLVENE-Only  Genuine  Solrent.  Per- 
manenlly  dissolves  Superfluous  Hair,  root  and  branch. 
In  five  minutes,  without  pain,  discoloration,  or  injurj. 
Particulars,  6  cento. 

MAMALENE-Developi  the   Bust.    BarmleM   anl 
Certain.     Particulars,  6  cent*. 
WILCOX    SPECIFIC    CO.,  Philadelphia,  P., 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


4-11   4-13  &   415     SANSOME    ST.  S.F 

DEALERS    IN 

kinds  of   Printing  and  Wrapping    Papers. 


GOLD,    SILVER,    NICKEL    AND    COPPER 
PLATING    WORKS. 


BOARDING  AND  DAY  SCHOOL 

FOR    YOUNG    LADIES. 

Oak  street,  between  Tenth  and  Eleventh, 

Oakland,  Cal. 
Miss  s.  15.  Bisbee,  Principal. 

The  location  of  this  school  is  retired,  the  grounds  are 
spacious,  well  shaded  and  beautiful.  The  building  is  con 
structed  in  the  most  approved  style  of  modren  architecture, 
securing  sunshine  and  ventilation  in  every  part.  The  school 
is  limited  in  number,  and  is  strictly  select.  Each  pupil  is 
considered  one  of  the  family,  and  all  freedom  and  comfort, 
consistent  with  good  order,  are  enjoyed  as  at  home. 

WANTED    for  DR.  SCOTT'S 

beautifulElectric  Corsets.  Sam- 
free  to  those  becoming  agents.  No 
risk,  quick  sales.Territory  given,  satisfaction  guaranteed 
Address  DR.  SCOTT,  842  Broadway  St.,  N.  Y. 


M  OI-&ITT& 
A  II  til  I  N 

*•*"*"•  ^   '  ^* 


Table   Ware   Re-plated.      Watches  and  Jewelry  of  all  de 
scription  gold  and  silver  plated.     Repairing  done 
on  all  kinds  of   work.     Silver-plated 
Amalgamating  Plates  fur 
nished  to  order. 

W.    E.     SHEPMAH,    Prop. 

103  Geary  St.,  S.  W.  cor.  Dupont. 


F.  A.  BLISS, 

DENTIST, 
9o6.Market    Street,   Rooms    7   and   8,  SanFrancisco. 


CLAY  STREET,  ||  r/ 

-2JSF 

^^TPlace     on     the    \ 
^f^JT  Coast  to  get   Sup- 
^Vjlr^  plies.      Wholesale    prices 
fSbr  to  Consumers.     Equality  to  all. ' 
No  Humbug.      No  Tricks.      A  full 
List  of  Prices  sent  free  on  application. 

CASH 

SAN    FRANCISCO.   CAL. 


A.    H.    CUMMINS. 


C     E.    ROYCE 


1DOYCE  &  CUMMINS, 

ATTORNEYS     AT    LAW, 

507  Montgomery  Street,    San  Francisco. 
Entrance,  Room  3.  Telephone  No.  132. 

CONSUMPTION, 

I  have  a  positive  remedy  for  the  above  disease  ;  by  its  usa 
thousands  of  cases  of  the  worst  kind  and  of  long  standing 
have  been  cured.  Indeed,  so  strong  is  my  faith  in  itsefficacy 
that  I  will  send  TWO  BOTTLES  FREE,  together  with  a  VAL 
UABLE  TREATISE  on  this  disease,  to  any  sufferer.  Give  ex 
press  it  P.  O.  address.  OR.  T.  A.  SLOCUM,  181  Pearl  St.  N.  Y 

WILLIAM      McPHUN, 

(Successor  to  Hartshorn  &  McPhun,) 
861  Market  Street,  opp.  Baldwin  Hotel. 

Factory,   cor.  22d  and  York  Sts, 


PAPER    HANGINGS, 

Carpets    and  Oil    Cloths. 


I    Manufacture    WINDOW    SHADES    for  Stores  and 
Dwelling  Houses. 

Original  Designs  a  Specialty. 

t&  Opaque   Shade   Cloth  and   Floor   Oil   Cloths.  "SA 


BEAUTIFUL 


LADIES!    Inckif  1C?. 
(stamps)  for  particulars  I 
i  testimonials  I       etc.,     in 

weulud  letter  by  return  mall,  of  Elegant  Toilet 
Keaulaltes!  How  to  BeautKy  and  Adorn  the  Coirplexioa! 
Remove  Wrinkles!  Flesh-Worms!  Black-Heads!  Freckles! 
Pimples!  Tan!  and Pock-Marks  !  Adlpo-Mulene  develops  the 
Bust!  ffon-injuriou* !  Corpus-Lean  reduces  superfluous 
flesh  10  to  15  IDS.  a  month  1  NO  POISON!  Leuko- 
Lentlne  cures  all  Womb  Diseases  and  Female  Complaints  ! 
NAME  PAPER  and  mention  the  artlclerwanted ! 
tthlchmtor  Chemical  Co., 
;V,1S  Madiaon  Square, 
Philadelphia.  Pa. 


BUSINESS 

COLLEGE, 

24  Post  St.  S,  F. 

Sem  Francisco,  Cal. 


Commercial  Education,  Penmanship,  Telegraphy,  Short 
hand  Type-writing,  and  the  Modern  Languages  are  now  in 
cluded  in  our  Business  Course—  all  for  $75  for  a  six  months 
iim.  Send  for  circular. 


THE    GOLDEN    ERA. 


FAMOUS 


Full  Power,  Price 


Full  Power,  Price  £10. 

The     Ulost      Wonderful      Curative 
A^ent  in  the  World. 


DUPLEX   GALVANIC    BELT, 

CURES    WITHOUT   THE   AID    OF    MEDICINE 

General  Debility,  Nervous  Prostration,  Rheumatism,  Neuralgia,  Sciatica,  Paralysis,  Constipation,  Disease  of  Liver,  Kid 

ney  or  Bladder,  Seminal    Weakness,  Sick   Headache,   Female  Weakness,  Dyspepsia,  Insipient 

Catarrh,  Insipient  Consumption,  Lame  Back  and  many  other  diseases. 

For  full  Information  and  Circulars,  address: 

PACIFIC     ELECTRIC     CO.,   33O    Slitter  St.,  San  Francisco,  Cal. 


PACIFIC  ELECTRIC  PAD  TRUSS 


THE    GREATEST    DISCOVERY   OF   THE    AGE. 

Patented  January  10,  1882. 


BEST    RETAINER     IN    EXISTENCE. 

Cures  Rupture  in  from  (JO  to  90  Days. 


SINGLE   TRUSS,  with  solution 
DOUBLE 


*"***(  lives  perfect  gase  ,-ind  comfort  in  all  positions.  Does  not  interfere  with  work  or  business.  We  guarantee  a  perfect 
cure  of  rupture  in  all  cases  which  we  accept  and  treat,  both  of  adults  and  children.  Our  Terms:  >O  <  I  Kl  . 
NO  JPAIf.  Now,  reader,  if  you  are  ruptured,  this  is  worthy  of  your  investigation.  We  especially  desire  all  ex 
treme  cases,  those  difficult  to  retain,  and  those  considered  incurable.  If  other  treatment  has  failed  you,  COME  AND 
SEE  US.  We  Guarantee  to  Retain  any  Case. 


TJ  3XT 


I  3VE  I  T 


Consultation  and  Advice  Free. 

OFFICE    OPEN     EVENINGS. 

Pacific  Electric  Company,  Sole  Proprietors. 


«»0     SUTTER     ST., 


FRAIWINC'O,    CAI,. 


CATARRH     CURED. 


!TTOne  kcn'le  of  our  Holbrook's  Electric  Catarrh  and  Asthma  Cure  will  cure  the  worst  case.  One  bottle  will  last  a 
whole  family  a  year.  Convenient  of  application,  prompt  in  action.  The  money  refunded  if  not  as  represented.  Sent  to 
any'address  on  the  receipt  of  one  dollar. 

Pacific  Electric  Company,  Sole  Proprietors, 

•^30    SUTTEI5     ST.,    SAN     FRANCISCO,    CAL. 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


GOLD  WEI6HT 


CJf^  A  TJ  Is  one  of  the  finest  for 
|9  V/JCjLJL  Laundry  and  all  other  pur 
poses  ever  used.  It  is  full  weight,  neatly 
wrapped,  and  Bells  for  the  price  of  common 
soap.  Ask  your  grocer  for  it  and  prove  it* 
value  by  its  use.  Depot,  115  Clay  St. 


This  Fine  Washing  Powder  is  now  sent 
to  every  State  and  Territory  on  the 
Coast,  and  is  fast  working  its 
way  east  of  the  moun 
tains. 


You  will 
find  your  wash 
ing  can  be  done  with 
half  the  labor  if  you  use 
this  fine  powder  according  to  in 
structions.     Send  10  cents  in  stamps 
and  get  a  trial  package.     Tell  your  grocer 
about  it  and  induce  him  to  keep  it.    It  is  worth 
twice  as  much  as  any  other  article  ot  the  kind. 
Addrew  Climax  Washing  Powder  Co.,  117  Clay  St.,  S.  F. 


Our  own 
Brand. 
Send  75  Cents 

and  get  ft 
TRIAL 
PACKAGE. 
By  Mail— 115 


TT?A 

JU  JJ> J,A» 


Finest 
Basket  Fired 
JAPAN. 


The  "HOME  CIBCLE,"  published  every 
month,  giving  full  quotations  for  all  family 
supplies.  Sample  copy  Free.  Address 
Smith's  Cash  Store,  115  &  117  Clay  St.,S.F. 


SILVER  PILL 

Did  you  ever  try  them?  Ask  somebody 
about  them;  most  remarkable  medicine  in 
the  world.  By  mail  everywhere,  $1.00. 

DE.  WELLS,  P.O.  Box  2633,  S.  F.,  Cala. 


PARLOR    OIL. 

OUR  OWN  BRAND,  has  a  Good 
Reputation,  and  we  intend  to  maintain 
it.     Send  for  it  to 

SMITH'S  CASH  STORE, 
115  Clay  Street,  San  Francisco,  Cal. 


T\o  not  toe  put  off 

±J    with  a  common 
or  medium  quality  of 


POOR 


WHEN  you  can  GET 
this  Celebrated  arti- 
cle  at  about  the  same 
price. 

Your  Grocer  keeps 
it  or  will  get  it  for 
yon. 


Use  GOLD  WEIGHT  BAKING  POWDER! 


Warranted  to  give  Satisfaction. 


ime  Price  as  the  Royal. 


for 
FRANCISCO, 

SMITH'S    CASH    STORE. 


English  and 
Scotch  People 

THIS 
FINE  BRAND 

OF 

ENGLISH 
Breakfast  Tea. 


RED 

ROSE 


By  Mail  as 

Sample  for 
85  Cts.  per  Ib. 
Address, 

SMITHS 
CASH 

STORE, 


115  Cl-ay  Street,  S.  F.,  Cal. 


THE  GOLDEN  ERA. 


PLATE   &  CO., 


Manufacturers  and  Dealers     in 


A.    H  I  RSCH, 


-AND- 


SOCIETY  GOODS, 


Military  and  Society 


17  POWELL  STREET, 


SAN    FRANCISCO. 


Opp.  Baldwin  Hotel. 


NEW  YORK  WORLD 


Has    the     l.:iry;«-st      <  ir<  11  In t  ion     of     any 

Newspaper  in  America,  because 

it  is  the  Best  Newspaper 

Published. 


WEEKLY 

SEMI-WEEKLY 

SUNDAY 

DAILY.. 


Over  i  ,000,000  Copies  Printed  Weekly. 

Per  Annum  $i  oo 


2  05 
i  oo 
6  oo 


The  WEEKLY  WORLD  is  now  offering  the  best  pre" 
miums  to  subscribers,  and  the  best  terms  to  agents  of  any 
papers  in  the  country. 


Agents  will  find  that  they  will  be  most  liberally  treated 
with  and  have  a  chance  to  MAKE  MONEY  if  they  will 
work  for  the  WEEKLY  WORLD. 


For  full  particulars  and  terms  address 

THE  WORJLD, 

32  Park  Row,  New  York  Cisy. 


THE     BEST     PLACE     FOR 

Musical    Instruments 

—  IS    AT — 

C  .    C.    K  E  E  i\  E  '  S 

Xo.    9    Third    *t.,    Ssin     Fruncisco. 


320    Kearny    St.,  bet.    Pine    and    Bush. 

Universal  Barometer  for  Farmers,  Mariners,  etc.  Price 
$6.00.  Spectacles,  Eyeglasses,  Gpera  Glasses,  Field  and 
Marine  Glasses. 

Send  for  Price  List  and  Eye  Test. 


E.     BUTTERI€K 


CO.'S 


PATTERNS 

For     Indies',     3Iis*es%     Boy**   and 
Little   Children's  Garments. 


Uuequaled     for    Style    and     Reliability. 


The  sale  of  these  Patterns  is   much   larger  than   that  of  all 
other  Patterns  combined. 

Send  for  Illustrated  Catalogue. 

Mailed  Free, 

H.  A.  DEMING,         -         -         -         GEN'L  AGENT. 
>o.   124  Post  St.,  San  Francisco. 


MEW  YORK  GALLERY, 

25  Third  Street,  San  Francisco,  Cal. 


Cabinet    Photographs,  only  #4.00  per  dozen.     First-civ 
work  guaranteed. 

SEWELL  &   CO.,  Proprietors 


J.L- 


CAHILL, 

DECORATIVE  PAPER  HANGER. 

Kalsomining  and  Painting    in   all   their  branches. "SI 
23  Sixth  Street,  San  Francisco. 


JOHN  B.  McINTYRE, 

423  Clay  and  422  Commercial  Sts.,  S.  F., 

Book  Binder  &  Blank  Book  Manufacture 

First-class  Work  at  Reasonable  Rates 


*»» 

a  sov-g.jfcjsJ'1^, 


Condon.  A 
To  John 

s. 

frrnnl  pn  f* 

C74 

/     t 

Tflfhittier. 

n  f 

DEC  11  19 

46  —  OF 

C  4    1946 

^' 

/  

^/ 

M1300SO 


35  3v 
C-74 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


H 

Hi 


